ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Bird beaks show why 'sister' species don't live together
• We are basically honest – except when we are at work, study suggests
• Scientists 'surprised' to discover very early ancestors survived on tropical plants, new study suggests
• Extending Einstein's ideas: New kind of quantum entanglement demonstrated
• Physicists make strides in understanding quantum entanglement
• Engineers develop new energy-efficient computer memory using magnetic materials
• We're all living longer, but longevity increases not benefiting everybody
• Dreidel-like dislocations lead to remarkable properties
• In decision-making, it might be worth trusting your gut
• Developing power sources for flexible, stretchable electronics
• Flesh-eating fungus responsible for five deaths in wake of massive tornado
• Improved techniques may help recovery and prevent incidents of missing drivers with dementia
• Research explores how children reason, think about others
• 'Liquid that thinks:' Swarm of ping-pong-ball-sized robots created
• Long-term anabolic-androgenic steroid use may impact visuospatial memory
• New peatland bacteria feed on greenhouse gas and excess fertilizer
• More casinos do not necessarily mean more gamblers: Study suggests fewer gamblers in Iowa despite casino growth in state
• Drug to treat opioid addiction places children at risk for accidental exposure
• 'House hunters walrus': Novel camera system to map Arctic sea ice surface topography
• Study fuels insight into conversion of wood to bio-oil
• What mechanism generates our fingers and toes? Genetic studies confirm a mathematical model
• New findings on killer bacteria’s defence
• Biosynthetic process that makes all metabolism possible elucidated
• If you cut down a tree in the forest, can wildlife hear it?
• Medical errors in hospitals: Doing the right thing when things go wrong
• Nanocrystals not small enough to avoid defects
• New targets for drugs to defeat aggressive brain tumor
• Schizophrenia linked to social inequality
• Passing the alcohol test: Fundamental properties of molecules have not changed during the past seven billion years
• Hard-to-treat Myc-driven cancers may be susceptible to drug already used in clinic
• Tissue engineering -- Growing new organs, and more: Research could lead to better ways to heal injuries and develop new drugs
• Beating heart of J-2x engine finishes year of successful NASA tests
• Antidepressant could do double duty as diabetes drug, study shows
• Countering brain chemical could prevent suicides, research suggests
• Carriers of gene variant appear less likely to develop heart disease
• Gazpacho consumption associated with lower blood pressure, study finds
• Changes in the gut bacteria protect against stroke, research finds
• Variable congestion charges may yield more stable air quality and improved health
• Male bushcrickets are in charge when it comes to sex
• Fertile soil doesn't fall from the sky: Contribution of bacterial remnants to soil fertility has been underestimated until now
• Better understanding of the cause of Alzheimer's disease
• One in ten 6- to 8-year-olds has sleep-disordered breathing, Finnish study finds
• The limits of the productive capacity of ecosystems
• Big-data research spurs industrial development
• What's in a genome? Whole-genome sequence of the fruit fly Drosophila mauritiana
• The end of a dogma: Bipolar cells generate action potentials
• Experts advise doctors on how to clear patients for space travel
• Intense mind wandering could account for 'substantial proportion' of road crashes
• Experts warn of misbehaving tooth fairy
• Dogs can help wake sleepy patients on public transport
• Dogs can accurately sniff out 'superbug' infections
• Olympians live longer than general population ... But cyclists no survival advantage over golfers
• Antioxidant cookies made possible by grape seeds

Bird beaks show why 'sister' species don't live together Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:50 PM PST A study of closely-related bird species has found that they do not coexist in the same region because they remain too ecologically similar and will out-compete each other, not because of geographical barriers or unsuitable habitats.

We are basically honest – except when we are at work, study suggests Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:45 PM PST A new study has revealed we are more honest than you might think. The research suggests that it pains us to tell lies, particularly when we are in our own homes. It appears that being honest is hugely important to our sense of who we are. However, while it might bother us to tell lies at home, we are less circumspect at work where we are probably more likely to bend the truth, suggests the study.

Scientists 'surprised' to discover very early ancestors survived on tropical plants, new study suggests Posted: 14 Dec 2012 05:09 PM PST Between three million and 3.5 million years ago, the diet of our very early ancestors in central Africa is likely to have consisted mainly of tropical grasses and sedges, new research suggests.

Extending Einstein's ideas: New kind of quantum entanglement demonstrated Posted: 14 Dec 2012 04:15 PM PST Physicists have published new research which builds on the original ideas of Einstein and adds a new ingredient: a third entangled particle.

Physicists make strides in understanding quantum entanglement Posted: 14 Dec 2012 04:15 PM PST While some theoretical physicists make predictions about astrophysics and the behavior of stars and galaxies, others work in the realm of the very small, which includes quantum physics. Recently, theoretical physicists have made important strides in studying a concept in quantum physics called quantum entanglement, in which electron spins are entangled with each other.

Engineers develop new energy-efficient computer memory using magnetic materials Posted: 14 Dec 2012 04:15 PM PST By using electric voltage instead of a flowing electric current, researchers have made major improvements to an ultra-fast, high-capacity class of computer memory known as magnetoresistive random access memory, or MRAM.

We're all living longer, but longevity increases not benefiting everybody Posted: 14 Dec 2012 04:15 PM PST Global lifespans have risen dramatically in the past 40 years, but the increased life expectancy is not benefiting everybody equally. In particular, adult males from low- and middle-income countries are losing ground.

Dreidel-like dislocations lead to remarkable properties Posted: 14 Dec 2012 04:12 PM PST Dreidel-shaped dislocations put a new spin on two-dimensional materials for advanced electronics, hinting at sub-nanometer signal paths.

In decision-making, it might be worth trusting your gut Posted: 14 Dec 2012 04:12 PM PST Turns out the trope is true: You should trust your gut -- as long as you're an expert. So says a new study.

Developing power sources for flexible, stretchable electronics Posted: 14 Dec 2012 04:12 PM PST Electronic devices become smaller, lighter, faster and more powerful with each passing year. Currently, however, electronics such as cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc., are rigid. But what if they could be made bendable or stretchy? According to engineers, stretchable electronics are the future of mobile electronics.

Flesh-eating fungus responsible for five deaths in wake of massive tornado Posted: 14 Dec 2012 04:09 PM PST A fast growing, flesh-eating fungus killed five people following a massive tornado that devastated Joplin, Mo., according to two new studies.

Improved techniques may help recovery and prevent incidents of missing drivers with dementia Posted: 14 Dec 2012 11:30 AM PST A new study focusing on characteristics of people with dementia who become lost while driving, and the role of public notification systems like Silver Alert in these discoveries, makes recommendations that may help recover drivers with dementia and prevent potentially harmful incidents.

Research explores how children reason, think about others Posted: 14 Dec 2012 11:30 AM PST Two new studies explore the development of reasoning and perspective-taking in children.

'Liquid that thinks:' Swarm of ping-pong-ball-sized robots created Posted: 14 Dec 2012 11:30 AM PST If one robot can accomplish a singular task, think how much more could be accomplished if you had hundreds of them. A research team has developed a basic robotic building block, which they hope to reproduce in large quantities to develop increasingly complex systems. Recently the team created a swarm of 20 robots, each the size of a ping-pong ball, which they call "droplets." When the droplets swarm together, they form a "liquid that thinks."

Long-term anabolic-androgenic steroid use may impact visuospatial memory Posted: 14 Dec 2012 11:30 AM PST The long-term use of anabolic-androgenic steroids may severely impact the user's ability to accurately recall the shapes and spatial relationships of objects, according to a recent study.

New peatland bacteria feed on greenhouse gas and excess fertilizer Posted: 14 Dec 2012 09:40 AM PST Researchers have discovered new methane-consuming bacteria in the soil beneath the Brunssummerheide peatland reserve in Limburg, the Netherlands. Although the bacteria may be the result of environmental pollution, they are now consuming the harmful greenhouse gas.

More casinos do not necessarily mean more gamblers: Study suggests fewer gamblers in Iowa despite casino growth in state Posted: 14 Dec 2012 09:40 AM PST While the number of casinos in Iowa has doubled since 1995, there are fewer gamblers overall, and fewer gambling addicts as well, according to a new study. The results suggest the market for gaming facilities, in Iowa and other states, reaches a saturation point.

Drug to treat opioid addiction places children at risk for accidental exposure Posted: 14 Dec 2012 09:40 AM PST As the prescribed use of buprenorphine has dramatically increased in recent years, accidental exposure of children to the drug has risen sharply, placing them at risk for serious injury, and in extremely rare cases even death.

'House hunters walrus': Novel camera system to map Arctic sea ice surface topography Posted: 14 Dec 2012 09:40 AM PST Scientists have developed a novel camera system to map the surface topography of Arctic sea ice to assess walrus habitat.

Study fuels insight into conversion of wood to bio-oil Posted: 14 Dec 2012 08:26 AM PST New research provides molecular-level insights into how cellulose -- the most common organic compound on Earth and the main structural component of plant cell walls -- breaks down in wood to create "bio-oils" which can be refined into any number of useful products, including liquid transportation fuels to power a car or an airplane.

What mechanism generates our fingers and toes? Genetic studies confirm a mathematical model Posted: 14 Dec 2012 08:26 AM PST Researchers have identified the mechanism responsible for generating our fingers and toes, and revealed the importance of gene regulation in the transition of fins to limbs during evolution.

New findings on killer bacteria’s defence Posted: 14 Dec 2012 08:26 AM PST Research from Sweden casts new light on the interaction between the immune system and streptococcus bacteria, which cause both mild tonsillitis and serious infections such as sepsis and necrotising fasciitis. The way in which antibodies attach to the bacteria is linked to how serious the disease is.

Biosynthetic process that makes all metabolism possible elucidated Posted: 14 Dec 2012 08:26 AM PST At crucial points in the metabolism of all organisms, a protein with the unwieldy name of Translation Elongation Factor P (EF-P, for short) takes center stage. What it actually does during protein synthesis has only now been elucidated.

If you cut down a tree in the forest, can wildlife hear it? Posted: 14 Dec 2012 08:26 AM PST A new tool is being used by scientists and land managers to model how noise travels through landscapes and affects species and ecosystems -— a major factor in land and wildlife management decisions such as where to locate new roads or recreational trails.

Medical errors in hospitals: Doing the right thing when things go wrong Posted: 14 Dec 2012 08:26 AM PST The Univ. of Michigan Health System doesn't claim to be perfect. But its response to medical errors is a model that other hospitals can and should copy, according to a new study.

Nanocrystals not small enough to avoid defects Posted: 14 Dec 2012 07:27 AM PST A team of researchers has shown that contrary to computer simulations, the tiny size of nanocrystals is no safeguard from defects. Studies at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source show that dislocations can form in the finest of nanocrystals when stress is applied.

New targets for drugs to defeat aggressive brain tumor Posted: 14 Dec 2012 07:27 AM PST Researchers have identified over 125 genetic components in a chemotherapy-resistant, brain tumor-derived cell line, which could offer new hope for drug treatment to destroy the cancer cells. The potential drug targets were identified after testing more than 5,000 genes derived from glioblastoma multiforme.

Schizophrenia linked to social inequality Posted: 14 Dec 2012 07:27 AM PST Higher rates of schizophrenia in urban areas can be attributed to increased deprivation, increased population density and an increase in inequality within a neighborhood, new research reveals.

Passing the alcohol test: Fundamental properties of molecules have not changed during the past seven billion years Posted: 14 Dec 2012 07:24 AM PST The mass ratio of protons and electrons is deemed to be a universal constant. And rightly so, as the latest radio-astronomy observations of a distant galaxy have shown. Scientists used the 100-metre radio telescope in Effelsberg to measure absorption lines of the methanol molecule at a number of characteristic frequencies. The researchers analysed the spectrum of the simplest of all the alcohols in a very distant galaxy. The result: to a high degree of accuracy molecules and molecular matter have the same properties today as they did seven billion years ago. According to this finding, the mass ratio of protons and electrons in particular has changed by less than one hundred thousandth of a percent in this period.

Hard-to-treat Myc-driven cancers may be susceptible to drug already used in clinic Posted: 14 Dec 2012 07:22 AM PST Drugs that are used in the clinic to treat some forms of breast and kidney cancer and that work by inhibiting the signaling molecule mTORC1 might have utility in treating some of the more than 15 percent of human cancers driven by alterations in the Myc gene, according to data from a preclinical study.

Tissue engineering -- Growing new organs, and more: Research could lead to better ways to heal injuries and develop new drugs Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:54 AM PST In the 1970s and 1980s, tissue engineers began working on growing replacement organs for transplantation into patients. While scientists are still targeting that goal, much of the tissue engineering research at MIT is also focused on creating tissue that can be used in the lab to model human disease and test potential new drugs.

Beating heart of J-2x engine finishes year of successful NASA tests Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:18 AM PST NASA has taken another step toward human exploration of new destinations in the solar system. At the agency's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, engineers conducted the final test-firing of the J-2X powerpack assembly, an important component of America's next heavy-lift rocket.

Antidepressant could do double duty as diabetes drug, study shows Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:16 AM PST Researchers have discovered that the commonly used antidepressant drug paroxetine could also become a therapy for the vascular complications of diabetes.

Countering brain chemical could prevent suicides, research suggests Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:16 AM PST Researchers have found the first proof that a chemical in the brain called glutamate is linked to suicidal behavior, offering new hope for efforts to prevent people from taking their own lives.

Carriers of gene variant appear less likely to develop heart disease Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:13 AM PST Scientists have discovered a new gene mechanism that appears to regulate triglyceride levels. This pathway may protect carriers of a gene variant against cardiovascular disease.

Gazpacho consumption associated with lower blood pressure, study finds Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:10 AM PST A regular consumption of gazpacho can contribute to reduce hypertension, according to a new study by researchers in Spain.

Changes in the gut bacteria protect against stroke, research finds Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:10 AM PST Researchers in Sweden demonstrate that an altered gut microbiota in humans is associated with symptomatic atherosclerosis and stroke.

Variable congestion charges may yield more stable air quality and improved health Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:10 AM PST Higher congestion charges in the morning and in the spring would even out the negative health effects caused by air pollution from cars in large cities.

Male bushcrickets are in charge when it comes to sex Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:10 AM PST All a question of timing: When bushcrickets mate, the male attaches a sticky package, the so-called spermatophore, to the female's abdomen. Alongside the sperm themselves, this 'bridal present' consists of a protein-rich mass that the female eats after mating. It then takes several hours for the sperm to find their way into the female's reproductive tract. But, who decides when that will happen? A new study suggests that it is the male who determines the dynamics of this process even when he has long 'hopped off' somewhere else.

Fertile soil doesn't fall from the sky: Contribution of bacterial remnants to soil fertility has been underestimated until now Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:10 AM PST Remains of dead bacteria have far greater meaning for soils than previously assumed. Around 40 per cent of the microbial biomass is converted to organic soil components, researchers report. Until now, it was assumed that the organic components of the soil were composed mostly of decomposed plant material which is directly converted to humic substances. In a laboratory experiment and in field testing, the researchers have now refuted this thesis. Evidently the easily biologically degradable plant material is initially converted to microbial biomass which then provides the source material to soil organic matter.

Better understanding of the cause of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:10 AM PST Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting over 35 million people worldwide. It is generally assumed that the clumping of beta-amyloid protein causes neuronal loss in patients. Medication focuses on reducing beta-amyloid 42, one of the most common proteins and the most harmful. Researchers in the Netherlands are refining the current approach.

One in ten 6- to 8-year-olds has sleep-disordered breathing, Finnish study finds Posted: 14 Dec 2012 05:58 AM PST Approximately ten per cent of 6-8 year olds have sleep-disordered breathing, according to a recent Finnish study. The risk is increased among children with enlarged tonsils, crossbite and convex facial profile. Unlike in adults, excess body fat is not associated with sleep-disordered breathing in this age group.

The limits of the productive capacity of ecosystems Posted: 14 Dec 2012 05:58 AM PST In a new article, researchers discuss how the measurement of biomass production and consumption can be used to gain a better understanding of the limits of the productive capacity of ecosystems.

Big-data research spurs industrial development Posted: 14 Dec 2012 05:58 AM PST One of the world's largest specialist groups within the field of big-data analytics is being assembled in Norway. The centre for Information Access Disruptions (iAD), with its head office in Tromsø, is at the core of this activity.

What's in a genome? Whole-genome sequence of the fruit fly Drosophila mauritiana Posted: 14 Dec 2012 05:58 AM PST Researchers have just published the first whole-genome sequence of the fruit fly Drosophila mauritiana, revealing intriguing details about the evolution of the species.

The end of a dogma: Bipolar cells generate action potentials Posted: 14 Dec 2012 05:58 AM PST To make information transmission to the brain reliable, the retina first has to "digitize" the image. Until now, it was widely believed that this step takes place in the retinal ganglion cells, the output neurons of the retina. Scientists have now been able to show that already bipolar cells can generate "digital" signals. At least three types of mouse BC showed clear evidence of fast and stereotypic action potentials, so called "spikes". These results show that the retina is by no means as well understood as is commonly believed.

Experts advise doctors on how to clear patients for space travel Posted: 13 Dec 2012 04:36 PM PST With the prospect of space travel for tourists looming, clinicians could soon be asked to advise on medical clearance for their patients, according to a new paper.

Intense mind wandering could account for 'substantial proportion' of road crashes Posted: 13 Dec 2012 04:31 PM PST People whose minds wander whilst driving, especially when intense, are significantly more likely to be responsible for a crash and are threatening safety on the roads, a new study warns.

Experts warn of misbehaving tooth fairy Posted: 13 Dec 2012 04:31 PM PST Opinions of the tooth fairy as kind and giving may need to be revised following "mounting reports of less child-friendly activity," according to a new paper.

Dogs can help wake sleepy patients on public transport Posted: 13 Dec 2012 04:31 PM PST Researchers in Belgium show in a new article how dogs can help patients with severe sleep problems.

Dogs can accurately sniff out 'superbug' infections Posted: 13 Dec 2012 04:31 PM PST Dogs can sniff out Clostridium difficile (the infective agent that is responsible for many of the dreaded "hospital acquired infections") in stool samples and even in the air surrounding patients in hospital with a very high degree of accuracy, a new study finds.

Olympians live longer than general population ... But cyclists no survival advantage over golfers Posted: 13 Dec 2012 04:31 PM PST Olympic medallists live longer than the general population, regardless of country of origin, medal won, or type of sport played, according to a new study. A second study comparing athletes who trained at different physical intensities, found that those from high or moderate intensity sports have no added survival benefit over athletes from low intensity sports. But those who engage in disciplines with high levels of physical contact, such as boxing, rugby and ice hockey, are at an increased risk of death in later life, the data show.

Antioxidant cookies made possible by grape seeds Posted: 13 Dec 2012 04:30 PM PST A new study found that it is possible to create cookies enriched with antioxidants from grape seeds that taste good and have an antioxidant level about 10 times higher than a regular cookie.

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