ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Mind reading from brain recordings? 'Neural fingerprints' of memory associations decoded
• New role for RNAi discovered: Epigenetic memory may pass RNA silencing from one generation to the next
• Musical robot companion enhances listener experience
• Dieting? Study challenges notion that a calorie is just a calorie
• Touch therapy helps reduce pain, nausea in cancer patients, study suggests
• Sifting through a trillion electrons
• Genetic variant is linked to obesity and insulin resistance
• Duplicate spending on US veterans' care costs billions
• Scientists find new primitive mineral in meteorite
• Glucose deprivation activates feedback loop that kills cancer cells, study shows
• Moderate coffee consumption offers protection against heart failure, study suggests
• Tiny magnetic coils modulate neural activity, may be safer for deep-brain implants
• Structure of new superhard form of carbon established
• Asthma linked to congested highways: Those living near heavily traveled interstate have higher rates of disease
• Gravitational lensing: Astronomers spot rare arc from hefty galaxy cluster
• Biomarker test for rheumatoid arthritis proves effective in study
• Link between brain insulin resistance, neuronal stress in worsening Alzheimer's disease
• Reaching, researching between stars: Astronomers use Lonestar supercomputer to explore role of dark matter in galaxy formation
• Better surfaces could help dissipate heat
• Thunderstorms have longer reach than thought: Storm researcher calls for new air safety guidelines
• Seeing inside tissue for no-cut surgeries: Researchers develop technique to focus light inside biological tissue
• Rewriting quantum chips with a beam of light: Laser technique brings ultrafast computing closer to reality
• Scientists spark new interest in the century-old Edison battery
• Curry spice, omega-3 fatty acid preserve walking ability following spinal-cord injury
• Fetal growth restriction affected by formation of maternal gene
• Exposure to environmental chemicals in the womb reprograms the rodent brain to disrupt reproduction
• Phthalate, environmental chemical is linked to higher rates of childhood obesity
• BPA exposure in pregnant mice changes gene expression of female offspring
• Transgenic technique 'eliminates' a specific neural circuit in brain of primates
• Biologists reveal potential 'fatal flaw' in iconic sexual selection study
• Cheaper cell phones with better signal quality: World's most powerful nanoscale microwave oscillators developed
• Romancing the firefly
• Pollutants may contribute to illness and becoming overweight
• Mechanism prevents alterations in neuronal production during embryonic development
• Countering crowd control collapse: Crowd disasters likened to unstable fluid flows
• Simpler lifestyle found to reduce exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals
• iPad 2 and other tablet computers may interfere with magnetically programmable shunt valve settings
• New toilet turns human waste into electricity and fertilizer
• Prenatal exposure to common household chemical, phthalate, increases risk for childhood eczema
• The Internet of things: Smart houses, smart traffic, smart health
• Atlantic heat constrains Arctic sea ice extent
• Cartilage regeneration for bone and joint repair is closer for patients, researchers say
• Human insulin suppresses mosquito immune system: increasing cases of type II diabetes could abet malaria’s spread

Mind reading from brain recordings? 'Neural fingerprints' of memory associations decoded Posted: 26 Jun 2012 02:27 PM PDT Researchers have begun to show that it is possible to use brain recordings to reconstruct aspects of an image or movie clip someone is viewing, a sound someone is hearing or even the text someone is reading. A new study brings this work one step closer to actual mind reading by using brain recordings to infer the way people organize associations between words in their memories.

New role for RNAi discovered: Epigenetic memory may pass RNA silencing from one generation to the next Posted: 26 Jun 2012 01:38 PM PDT Researchers have identified a mechanism related to RNAi that scans for intruders not by recognizing dsRNA or some other aberrant feature of the foreign sequence, but rather by comparing the foreign sequences to a memory of previously expressed native RNA. Once identified, an "epigenetic memory" of the foreign DNA fragments is created and can be passed on from one generation to the next, permanently silencing the gene.

Musical robot companion enhances listener experience Posted: 26 Jun 2012 01:38 PM PDT Wedding DJs everywhere should be worried about job security now that a new robot is on the scene. Shimi, an interactive musical companion recommends songs, dances to the beat and keeps the music pumping based on listener feedback.

Dieting? Study challenges notion that a calorie is just a calorie Posted: 26 Jun 2012 01:38 PM PDT A new study challenges the notion that "a calorie is a calorie." The study finds diets that reduce the surge in blood sugar after a meal -- either low-glycemic index or very-low carbohydrate -- may be preferable to a low-fat diet for those trying to achieve lasting weight loss.

Touch therapy helps reduce pain, nausea in cancer patients, study suggests Posted: 26 Jun 2012 01:36 PM PDT Patients reported significant improvement in side effects of cancer treatment following just one Jin Shin Jyutsu session. Jin Shin Jyutsu is an ancient form of touch therapy similar to acupuncture in philosophy.

Sifting through a trillion electrons Posted: 26 Jun 2012 12:18 PM PDT Modern research tools like supercomputers, particle colliders, and telescopes are generating so much data, so quickly, many scientists fear that soon they will not be able to keep up with the deluge.

Genetic variant is linked to obesity and insulin resistance Posted: 26 Jun 2012 12:11 PM PDT A large study in people at risk of diabetes has found a direct association between the presence of a small genetic alteration in a hormone receptor and increased body fat and insulin resistance. The results suggest an adverse role for a previously described genetic variant, the BclI polymorphism.

Duplicate spending on US veterans' care costs billions Posted: 26 Jun 2012 11:22 AM PDT The US federal government made about $13 billion in duplicative payments to provide health-care services to veterans who were simultaneously enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans from 2004-2009.

Scientists find new primitive mineral in meteorite Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:19 AM PDT In 1969, an exploding fireball tore through the sky over Mexico, scattering thousands of pieces of meteorite across the state of Chihuahua. More than 40 years later, the Allende meteorite is still serving the scientific community as a rich source of information about the early stages of our solar system's evolution. Recently, scientists discovered a new mineral embedded in the space rock -- one they believe to be among the oldest minerals formed in the solar system.

Glucose deprivation activates feedback loop that kills cancer cells, study shows Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:18 AM PDT Researchers demonstrate the power of systems biology to uncover relationships between metabolism and signaling at the network level. The findings add to the emerging concept of systems integration between oncogenic signaling networks and metabolism of malignant tumors. The work lays a foundation for future studies delineating how signaling and metabolism are linked, with the ultimate goal of refining therapeutic strategies targeting cancer metabolism.

Moderate coffee consumption offers protection against heart failure, study suggests Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:18 AM PDT While current American Heart Association heart failure prevention guidelines warn against habitual coffee consumption, some studies propose a protective benefit, and still others find no association at all. Amidst this conflicting information, new research attempts to shift the conversation from a definitive yes or no, to a question of how much.

Tiny magnetic coils modulate neural activity, may be safer for deep-brain implants Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:18 AM PDT Magnetic fields generated by microscopic devices implanted into the brain may be able to modulate brain-cell activity and reduce symptoms of several neurological disorders.

Structure of new superhard form of carbon established Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:17 AM PDT Researchers have established the structure of a new form of carbon. The team used a novel computational method to demonstrate that the properties of what had previously been thought to be only a hypothetical structure of a superhard form of carbon called "M-carbon" matched perfectly the experimental data on "superhard graphite."

Asthma linked to congested highways: Those living near heavily traveled interstate have higher rates of disease Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:17 AM PDT Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, found that living near a heavily congested highway correlates with a higher presence of asthma.

Gravitational lensing: Astronomers spot rare arc from hefty galaxy cluster Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:12 AM PDT Seeing is believing, except when you don't believe what you see. Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have found a puzzling arc of light behind an extremely massive cluster of galaxies residing 10 billion light-years away. The galactic grouping, discovered by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, was observed as it existed when the universe was roughly a quarter of its current age of 13.7 billion years. The giant arc is the stretched shape of a more distant galaxy whose light is distorted by the monster cluster's powerful gravity, an effect called gravitational lensing. The trouble is, the arc shouldn't exist.

Biomarker test for rheumatoid arthritis proves effective in study Posted: 26 Jun 2012 09:10 AM PDT A simple blood test may help physicians track the progression of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, say researchers. The international research team says that a blood test measuring 12 biomarkers for RA is a valid and potentially useful tool in managing the disease.

Link between brain insulin resistance, neuronal stress in worsening Alzheimer's disease Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:52 AM PDT A new study has revealed a link between brain insulin resistance (diabetes) and two other key mediators of neuronal injury that help Alzheimer's disease to propagate. The research found that once Alzheimer's is established, therapeutic efforts must also work to reduce toxin production in the brain.

Reaching, researching between stars: Astronomers use Lonestar supercomputer to explore role of dark matter in galaxy formation Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:52 AM PDT A new study reveals that dark matter is more distributed than predictions previously stated. Researchers used the TACC Lonestar supercomputer to simulate thousands of galaxy models based on the information retrieved at the McDonald Observatory and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Better surfaces could help dissipate heat Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:52 AM PDT Researchers at MIT have found that relatively simple, microscale roughening of a surface can dramatically enhance its transfer of heat. Such an approach could be far less complex and more durable than approaches that enhance heat transfer through smaller patterning in the nanometer (billionths of a meter) range. The new research also provides a theoretical framework for analyzing the behavior of such systems, pointing the way to even greater improvements.

Thunderstorms have longer reach than thought: Storm researcher calls for new air safety guidelines Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:49 AM PDT Aircraft turbulence guidelines should be rewritten after new research revealed thunderstorms could produce unexpected turbulence more than 100 km away from storm cells.

Seeing inside tissue for no-cut surgeries: Researchers develop technique to focus light inside biological tissue Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:43 AM PDT Imagine if doctors could perform surgery without ever having to cut through your skin. Or if they could diagnose cancer by seeing tumors inside the body with a procedure that is as simple as an ultrasound. Thanks to a new technique, all of that may be possible in the not-so-distant future.

Rewriting quantum chips with a beam of light: Laser technique brings ultrafast computing closer to reality Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:43 AM PDT The promise of ultrafast quantum computing has moved a step closer to reality with a technique to create rewritable computer chips using a beam of light. Researchers used light to control the spin of an atom's nucleus in order to encode information.

Scientists spark new interest in the century-old Edison battery Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:43 AM PDT Scientists have dramatically improved the performance of Thomas Edison's nickel-iron battery. The enhanced device could be used in electric vehicles, much as Edison originally envisioned.

Curry spice, omega-3 fatty acid preserve walking ability following spinal-cord injury Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:39 AM PDT Researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient in curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. The findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

Fetal growth restriction affected by formation of maternal gene Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:39 AM PDT A Japanese study has found that maternal rather than fetal factors are associated with fetal growth restriction. A comparison of maternal and fetal angiotensin-converting enzyme genotypes with the size of babies at birth found evidence of this connection. This finding lends support to the hypothesis that reduced placental blood flow leads to fetal growth restriction.

Exposure to environmental chemicals in the womb reprograms the rodent brain to disrupt reproduction Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:39 AM PDT Prenatal exposure to the environmental contaminants polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, causes long-term changes to the developing brain that have adverse effects on reproductive function later in life, a new study finds.

Phthalate, environmental chemical is linked to higher rates of childhood obesity Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:39 AM PDT Obese children show greater exposure than nonobese children to a phthalate, a chemical used to soften plastics in some children's toys and many household products, according to a new study, which found that the obesity risk increases according to the level of the chemical found in the bloodstream.

BPA exposure in pregnant mice changes gene expression of female offspring Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:39 AM PDT Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A, or BPA, a chemical found in many common plastic household items, can cause numerous genes in the uterus to respond differently to estrogen in adulthood, according to a study using a mouse model.

Transgenic technique 'eliminates' a specific neural circuit in brain of primates Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:27 AM PDT Biologists have developed a gene transfer technique that can "eliminate" a specific neural circuit in non-human primates for the first time.

Biologists reveal potential 'fatal flaw' in iconic sexual selection study Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:27 AM PDT A classic study from more than 60 years ago that reportedly showed that males are more promiscuous and females more choosy in selecting mates may be wrong, say life scientists who are the first to repeat the historic experiment using the same methods.

Cheaper cell phones with better signal quality: World's most powerful nanoscale microwave oscillators developed Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:27 AM PDT Researchers have developed the world's most powerful nanoscale microwave oscillators. The new electron spin-based oscillators use a spin-transfer torque magnetoresistive random access memory or STT-RAM, which has great potential over other types of memory currently in use for both speed and power efficiency. The new oscillators could lead to mobile communication devices that are less expensive to manufacture and deliver a much better signal quality.

Romancing the firefly Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:27 AM PDT While a female firefly's initial assessment of potential mates is based on males' luminescent flashes, once a pair makes physical contact, sexy flashes no longer matter. Instead, it's males that have larger nuptial gifts (a protein-packed sperm package that helps females produce more eggs) that mate more often and father more offspring.

Pollutants may contribute to illness and becoming overweight Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:26 AM PDT Lack of physical activity and poor diet alone cannot explain the dramatic rise in obesity and diabetes occurring in many countries, believe some researchers. It is time to face the possibility that hazardous chemicals may also share part of the blame.

Mechanism prevents alterations in neuronal production during embryonic development Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:26 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a mechanism that prevents alterations in neurogenesis, the process of neuronal formation, during the development of the nervous system in vertebrates. The study relates these distortions to the natural presence of a molecule that inhibits the neuronal formation at the regions adjacent to the tissue suitable for neurogenesis.

Countering crowd control collapse: Crowd disasters likened to unstable fluid flows Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:26 AM PDT Understanding crowd dynamics can prevent disaster at cultural or sports events. Physicists investigating a recent crowd disaster in Germany found that one of the key causes was that at some point the crowd dynamics turned turbulent, akin to behavior found in unstable fluid flows. Never before have crowd disasters been studied by relying on a qualitative analysis of large public data sets. These include media and public authority reports, YouTube videos, Google Earth maps, 360Úphotographs, and other Internet sources.

Simpler lifestyle found to reduce exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:25 AM PDT A lifestyle that features fresh foods and limited use of products likely to contain environmental chemicals has been shown to reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as BPA and phthalates, in a small population study. EDCs are linked to a number of adverse health complications including neuro-developmental delays, behavioral issues and fertility problems. They are produced by the millions of pounds per year and found extensively in a range of products that contain certain plastics.

iPad 2 and other tablet computers may interfere with magnetically programmable shunt valve settings Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:25 AM PDT Researchers find that magnets within the Apple iPad 2 tablet may interfere with the settings of magnetically programmable shunt devices, resulting in a shunt malfunction until the problem is discovered and the valve readjusted.

New toilet turns human waste into electricity and fertilizer Posted: 26 Jun 2012 04:29 AM PDT Scientists have invented a new toilet system that will turn human waste into electricity and fertilizers and also reduce the amount of water needed for flushing by up to 90 per cent compared to current toilet systems in Singapore.

Prenatal exposure to common household chemical, phthalate, increases risk for childhood eczema Posted: 26 Jun 2012 03:51 AM PDT Prenatal exposure to a ubiquitous household chemical called butylbenzyl phthalate can increase a child's risk for developing eczema, according to new research.

The Internet of things: Smart houses, smart traffic, smart health Posted: 26 Jun 2012 03:50 AM PDT 'The Internet of Things' involves the technology we use when the things around us are 'talking' to each other. The chips and sensors that identify these things also enable them to 'talk' to each other, or talk via the Internet and thus share and transfer information to the rest of the world. The fridge can tell you that a chicken fillet is on the verge if its expiry date. Your electric car can transfer power back to the grid so that it doesn't become overcharged, and if you have a chronic illness, you can be medically monitored and cared for via wireless sensor systems. We will soon have smart houses, smart traffic and smart health. Technology optimists claim that IoT technology will be the vital missing link enabling us to meet the major challenges associated with climate change, energy efficiency, mobility and future health services. The new technology will also create new products, new services, new interfaces and new applications.

Atlantic heat constrains Arctic sea ice extent Posted: 26 Jun 2012 03:50 AM PDT The Arctic sea ice cover is a sensitive indicator of climate variability and change. Researchers have for the first time quantified how Atlantic heat influences the sea ice extent in the Barents Sea, where the retreat in Arctic winter sea ice is the most pronounced.

Cartilage regeneration for bone and joint repair is closer for patients, researchers say Posted: 26 Jun 2012 03:48 AM PDT Biomedical engineering researchers say better implantable sensors and cartilage-growing techniques are making engineered cartilage a clinical reality for patients suffering from joint damage.

Human insulin suppresses mosquito immune system: increasing cases of type II diabetes could abet malaria’s spread Posted: 26 Jun 2012 03:12 AM PDT Human insulin suppresses the mosquito immune system, according to a new article. And while mosquitoes and malaria might seem to go together like baseball and hotdogs, mosquitoes' immunological resistance to the malaria parasite actually slows its spread among people.

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