ScienceDaily: Top News

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• BOSS quasars unveil a new era in the expansion history of the universe
• How elderly go from being perceived as capable consumer to 'old person'
• Smoking parents often expose children to tobacco smoke in their cars
• Divorce costs thousands of American women health insurance coverage
• The aftermath of calculator use in college classrooms
• Snap judgments during speed dating
• Jellyfish-inspired device that captures cancer cells from blood samples could enable better patient monitoring
• L-DOPA therapy for Angelman syndrome may have both benefits and unanticipated effects, study suggests
• Erosion has a point, and an edge
• Head injury and pesticide exposure leads to triple the risk of Parkinson’s disease
• Cilia guide neuronal migration in developing brain
• Meditation appears to produce enduring changes in emotional processing in the brain
• A better route to xylan: Researchers find new access to abundant biomass for advanced biofuels
• 'Strain tuning' reveals promise in nanoscale manufacturing
• New power generation technique: Hybrid nanomaterial converts light and thermal energy into electrical current
• Infants mimic unusual behavior when accompanied by language
• Species persistence or extinction: Through a mathematical lens
• Desecrated ancient temple sheds light on early power struggles at Tel Beth-Shemesh
• Genetic link between pancreatitis and alcohol consumption
• Humans are slowly but surely losing intellectual and emotional abilities, article suggests
• List of diseases spread by deer tick grows, including malaria-like problems and potentially fatal encephalitis
• Gene sequencing project identifies abnormal gene that launches rare childhood leukemia
• Genome sequencing of Burkitt Lymphoma reveals unique mutation
• New live vaccine approach for SARS and novel coronaviruses discovered
• Smart drug improves survival in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia
• Bringing measuring accuracy to radical treatment
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory's supercomputer named world’s most powerful
• First noiseless single photon amplifier
• Call for global monitoring of infectious diseases in dogs and cats
• Undersea gas leaks off Israel’s coast discovered
• Genetic defense mechanism may offer biological clue to racial disparities in kidney disease
• New way to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen: Breakthrough for solar energy conversion and storage?
• Combination of PI3-kinase and PARP inhibitors may offer new treatment option for triple-negative breast cancers
• Researchers unlock ancient Maya secrets with modern soil science
• Did wild birds cause the 2010 deadly West Nile virus outbreak in Greece?
• Scientists unravel the mystery of marine methane oxidation
• The energy of stunt kites
• How bacteria attack their host cells with sticky lollipops
• Looking for information? Turn the pages with just your eyes
• Mongolia and the Altai Mountains: Origins of genetic blending between Europeans and Asians
• Researchers discover a new type of toxic protein
• CERN collider to become the world's fastest stopwatch?
• Surveying Earth's interior with atomic clocks
• Stable compounds of oxygen and 'inert' gas xenon predicted
• Helmets save lives of skiers and snowboarders, study suggests

BOSS quasars unveil a new era in the expansion history of the universe Posted: 12 Nov 2012 07:43 PM PST BOSS, the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, is mapping a huge volume of space to measure the role of dark energy in the evolution of the universe. BOSS is the largest program of the third Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III) and has just announced the first major result of a new mapping technique, based on the spectra of over 48,000 quasars with redshifts up to 3.5, meaning that light left these active galaxies up to 11.5 billion years in the past.

How elderly go from being perceived as capable consumer to 'old person' Posted: 12 Nov 2012 02:14 PM PST Many baby boomers want to improve the way people view aging, but a researcher has found they often reinforce negative stereotypes of old age when interacting with their own parents, coloring the way those seniors experience their twilight years.

Smoking parents often expose children to tobacco smoke in their cars Posted: 12 Nov 2012 02:14 PM PST A new study suggests that parents may not recognize the dangers of smoking in their cars with a child present.

Divorce costs thousands of American women health insurance coverage Posted: 12 Nov 2012 02:14 PM PST About 115,000 American women lose private health insurance every year in the wake of divorce, a study shows.

The aftermath of calculator use in college classrooms Posted: 12 Nov 2012 02:14 PM PST Math instructors promoting calculator usage in college classrooms may want to rethink their teaching strategies, experts say. They have proposed the need for further research regarding calculators' role in the classroom after conducting a limited study with undergraduate engineering students.

Snap judgments during speed dating Posted: 12 Nov 2012 02:13 PM PST For speed daters, first impressions are everything. But it's more than just whether someone is hot or not. Researchershave found that people make such speed-dating decisions based on a combination of two different factors that are related to activity in two distinct parts of the brain.

Jellyfish-inspired device that captures cancer cells from blood samples could enable better patient monitoring Posted: 12 Nov 2012 02:13 PM PST Tumor cells circulating in a patient's bloodstream can yield a great deal of information on how a tumor is responding to treatment and what drugs might be more effective against it. But first, these rare cells have to be captured and isolated from the many other cells found in a blood sample. Scientists are now working on microfluidic devices that can isolate circulating tumor cells.

L-DOPA therapy for Angelman syndrome may have both benefits and unanticipated effects, study suggests Posted: 12 Nov 2012 02:12 PM PST New research from the University of North Carolina provides a neurological justification for this therapeutic approach, but researchers caution there could be unanticipated effects.

Erosion has a point, and an edge Posted: 12 Nov 2012 02:12 PM PST Erosion caused by flowing water does not only smooth out objects, but can also form distinct shapes with sharp points and edges, researchers have found. Their findings reveal the unexpected ways that erosion can affect landscapes and artificial materials.

Head injury and pesticide exposure leads to triple the risk of Parkinson’s disease Posted: 12 Nov 2012 02:10 PM PST A new study shows that people who have had a head injury and have lived or worked near areas where the pesticide paraquat was used may be three times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease.

Cilia guide neuronal migration in developing brain Posted: 12 Nov 2012 12:03 PM PST A new study demonstrates the dynamic role cilia play in guiding the migration of neurons in the embryonic brain. Cilia are tiny hair-like structures on the surfaces of cells, but here they are acting more like radio antennae. In developing mouse embryos, researchers were able to see cilia extending and retracting as neurons migrate. The cilia appear to be receiving signals needed for neurons to find their places.

Meditation appears to produce enduring changes in emotional processing in the brain Posted: 12 Nov 2012 12:03 PM PST A new study has found that participating in an eight-week meditation training program can have measurable effects on how the brain functions even when someone is not actively meditating. The researchers also found differences in those effects based on the specific type of meditation practiced.

A better route to xylan: Researchers find new access to abundant biomass for advanced biofuels Posted: 12 Nov 2012 12:03 PM PST Researchers have identified a gene in rice plants whose suppression improves both the extraction of xylan and the overall release of the sugars needed to make biofuels.

'Strain tuning' reveals promise in nanoscale manufacturing Posted: 12 Nov 2012 12:03 PM PST Researcher combined theoretical and experimental studies to understand and control the self-assembly of insulating barium zirconium oxide nanodots and nanorods within barium-copper-oxide superconducting films.

New power generation technique: Hybrid nanomaterial converts light and thermal energy into electrical current Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:56 AM PST Researchers have created a hybrid nanomaterial that can be used to convert light and thermal energy into electrical current. The team built a prototype thermoelectric generator they hope can eventually produce milliwatts for use in devices such as self-powering sensors, low-power electronic devices and implantable biomedical micro-devices, they said. They have also coupled gold nanoparticles with copper sulfide nanoparticles for potential use in cancer therapy.

Infants mimic unusual behavior when accompanied by language Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:56 AM PST A new study shows the power of language in infants' ability to understand the intentions of others. The results, based on two experiments, show that introducing a novel word for the impending novel event had a powerful effect on the infants' tendency to imitate the behavior. Infants were more likely to imitate behavior, however unconventional, if it had been named, than if it remained unnamed, the study shows.

Species persistence or extinction: Through a mathematical lens Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:56 AM PST A new study uses mathematical modeling to study Allee effects, the phenomenon by which a population's growth declines at low densities.

Desecrated ancient temple sheds light on early power struggles at Tel Beth-Shemesh Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:56 AM PST In a finding unparalleled in the archaeological record, researchers have uncovered evidence of the desecration of a sacred temple at the excavation of Tel Beth-Shemesh in Israel.

Genetic link between pancreatitis and alcohol consumption Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:55 AM PST A new study reveals a genetic link between chronic pancreatitis and alcohol consumption. Researchers found a genetic variant on chromosome X near the claudin-2 gene (CLDN2) that predicts which men who are heavy drinkers are at high risk of developing chronic pancreatitis.

Humans are slowly but surely losing intellectual and emotional abilities, article suggests Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:55 AM PST Human intelligence and behavior require optimal functioning of a large number of genes, which requires enormous evolutionary pressures to maintain. A provocative theory suggests that we are losing our intellectual and emotional capabilities because the intricate web of genes endowing us with our brain power is particularly susceptible to mutations and that these mutations are not being selected against in our modern society.

List of diseases spread by deer tick grows, including malaria-like problems and potentially fatal encephalitis Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:55 AM PST An emerging tick-borne disease that causes symptoms similar to malaria is expanding its range in areas of the northeast where it has become well-established, according to new research.

Gene sequencing project identifies abnormal gene that launches rare childhood leukemia Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:52 AM PST Research has identified a fusion gene responsible for almost 30 percent of a rare subtype of childhood leukemia with an extremely poor prognosis. The finding offers the first evidence of a mistake that gives rise to a significant percentage of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) cases in children. AMKL accounts for about 10 percent of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The discovery paves the way for desperately needed treatment advances.

Genome sequencing of Burkitt Lymphoma reveals unique mutation Posted: 12 Nov 2012 08:31 AM PST In the first broad genetic landscape mapped of a Burkitt lymphoma tumor, scientists identified 70 mutations, including several that had not previously been associated with cancer and a new one that was unique to the disease.

New live vaccine approach for SARS and novel coronaviruses discovered Posted: 12 Nov 2012 08:31 AM PST Researchers have found that accelerating the rate of mutations in the coronavirus responsible for deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome cripples the virus's ability to cause disease in animals.

Smart drug improves survival in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia Posted: 12 Nov 2012 08:31 AM PST A new study has found acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients given a new type of 'smart drug' in addition to chemotherapy treatment are 22 per cent less likely to relapse and around 13 per cent less likely to die from their disease.

Bringing measuring accuracy to radical treatment Posted: 12 Nov 2012 07:14 AM PST An international team of scientists has determined for the first time the absolute density of active substances called radicals found in a state of matter known as plasma, in a new study. These findings could have important implications for medicine -- for example, for stimulating tissue regeneration, or to induce a targeted antiseptic effect in vivo without affecting neighboring tissues.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory's supercomputer named world’s most powerful Posted: 12 Nov 2012 07:13 AM PST The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory is again home to the most powerful computer in the world, according to the Top500 list, a semiannual ranking of computing systems around the world.

First noiseless single photon amplifier Posted: 12 Nov 2012 07:10 AM PST Research physicists have demonstrated the first device capable of amplifying the information in a single particle of light without adding noise. The next step will be to build additional quantum teleportation into the experiment, which will make the noiseless amplifier more directly useful for long-distance communication.

Call for global monitoring of infectious diseases in dogs and cats Posted: 12 Nov 2012 07:10 AM PST Most emerging infectious diseases of humans come from animals. International health agencies monitor these diseases, but they do so only for humans and livestock, not for companion dogs and cats. A new study recommends a global system is needed to monitor infectious diseases of companion dogs and cats.

Undersea gas leaks off Israel’s coast discovered Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:59 AM PST Most of the efforts in Israel's energy field are being directed at gas buried deep under the Mediterranean seabed. Now a new geophysical study, the first of its kind in Israel, has uncovered a system of active gas springs in the Haifa Bay seabed, at relatively shallow depths, only a few dozen meters below the surface. The study describes the entire system, from its sources under the sea floor through the natural springs emerging from the seabed.

Genetic defense mechanism may offer biological clue to racial disparities in kidney disease Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:59 AM PST Genetic changes that protected their ancestors against fly-borne parasites may partly explain why African-Americans with lupus are up to five times more likely to develop end-stage kidney disease than those of European descent.

New way to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen: Breakthrough for solar energy conversion and storage? Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:59 AM PST Using the power of the sun and ultrathin films of iron oxide, Israeli researchers have found a novel way to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The breakthrough could lead to less expensive, more efficient ways to store solar energy in the form of hydrogen-based fuels.

Combination of PI3-kinase and PARP inhibitors may offer new treatment option for triple-negative breast cancers Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:59 AM PST The simultaneous inhibition of two separate and seemingly unrelated pathways could potentially provide an effective treatment for women with triple-negative breast cancer, according to results of two new studies.

Researchers unlock ancient Maya secrets with modern soil science Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:07 AM PST Soil scientists and archeologists have uncovered evidence that the Maya grew corn sustainably in the lowlands of Tikal, Guatemala, but that they may also have farmed erosion-prone slopes over time.

Did wild birds cause the 2010 deadly West Nile virus outbreak in Greece? Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:05 AM PST In 2010, 35 people in Greece died from a West Nile virus (WNV) outbreak, with a further 262 laboratory-confirmed human cases. A new article examines whether wild or migratory birds could have been responsible for importing and amplifying the deadly virus.

Scientists unravel the mystery of marine methane oxidation Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:05 AM PST Researchers have uncovered how microorganisms on the ocean floor protect the atmosphere from methane.

The energy of stunt kites Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:05 AM PST It may seem as though the German plains are all but tapped out when it comes to wind energy production. To refute this theory researchers are sending stunt kites into the skies to harness the wind and convert the kinetic energy generated into electricity.

How bacteria attack their host cells with sticky lollipops Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:05 AM PST Yersinia enterocolitica, a pathogenic bacterium, causes fever and diarrhea. With the help of a protein anchored in its membrane, Yersinia attaches to its host cells and infects them. Scientists have determined the structure of an important component of the membrane protein and have gained insight into its biogenesis. The membrane proteins provide an interesting starting point for the development of new antibiotics against pathogens.

Looking for information? Turn the pages with just your eyes Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:04 AM PST Putting on a pair of novel data glasses with an OLED microdisplay allows you to see not only the real world, but also a wealth of virtual information. Imagine looking through a repair manual; the trick here is that you turn the pages using just your eyes.

Mongolia and the Altai Mountains: Origins of genetic blending between Europeans and Asians Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:04 AM PST A group of researchers has discovered the first scientific evidence of genetic blending between Europeans and Asians in the remains of ancient Scythian warriors living over 2,000 years ago in the Altai region of Mongolia. Contrary to what was believed until now, the results indicate that this blending was not due to an eastward migration of Europeans, but to a demographic expansion of local Central Asian populations, thanks to the technological improvements the Scythian culture brought with them.

Researchers discover a new type of toxic protein Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:04 AM PST Researchers have discovered a toxic protein of pathogenic acanthamoebae and have been able to elucidate its three-dimensional structure. They found that this protein molecule looks different from all the structures formerly discovered. The acanthamoeba secretes a cell toxin (Acanthaporin); when roused from its inactive state this toxin infiltrates human nerve cells or bacteria and embeds itself in the plasma membrane, forming a kind of circular channel (pore).

CERN collider to become the world's fastest stopwatch? Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:00 AM PST Heavy ion collisions at CERN should be able to produce the shortest light pulses ever created, computer simulations demonstrate. The pulses are so short that they cannot even be measured by today's technological equipment. Now, a method has been proposed to create the world's most precise stopwatch for the world's shortest light pulses, using a detector which is going to be installed at CERN in 2018.

Surveying Earth's interior with atomic clocks Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:00 AM PST Have you ever thought to use a clock to identify mineral deposits or concealed water resources within the Earth? Some scientists are convinced that ultraprecise portable atomic clocks will make this a reality in the next decade. The scientists argue that these atomic clocks have already reached the necessary degree of precision to be useful for geophysical surveying. They say that such clocks will provide the most direct measurement of the geoid – the Earth's true physical form. It will also be possible to combine atomic clocks measurements to existent geophysical methods to explore the interior of the Earth.

Stable compounds of oxygen and 'inert' gas xenon predicted Posted: 12 Nov 2012 05:49 AM PST An international team of researchers has established stability of several oxides of normally inert xenon. These compounds are predicted to be stable at high pressures above 830,000 atmospheres, i.e. at pressures corresponding to Earth's mantle and readily achievable in the laboratory.

Helmets save lives of skiers and snowboarders, study suggests Posted: 12 Nov 2012 05:49 AM PST The use of helmets by skiers and snowboarders decreases the risk and severity of head injuries and saves lives, new research suggests. The findings debunk long-held beliefs by some that the use of helmets gives athletes a false sense of security and promotes dangerous behavior that might increase injuries.

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