ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Fossil saved from mule track revolutionizes understanding of ancient dolphin-like marine reptile
• Treatment with two osteoporosis drugs better at increasing bone density than single-drug therapy
• Mum and dad dinosaurs shared the work
• 'Magic bullet’ nanomedicine developed for acute lung injury
• 'Owning' a darker skin can positively impact racial bias, study finds
• Women's immune systems remain younger for longer
• Slim women have a greater risk of developing endometriosis than obese women: study
• Nearly 50 percent increase in ICU admissions in U.S., new study says
• New uses for tiny carbon nanotubes: Adding ionic liquid to nanotube films could build smaller gadgets
• Massage therapy shown to improve stress response in preterm infants
• Study IDs key protein for cell death
• Research helps paint finer picture of massive 1700 earthquake
• Cardio and weight training reduces access to health care in seniors
• Male testosterone levels increase when victorious in competition against rivals, but not friends
• Trying to be happier works when listening to upbeat music
• Getting a grip on sleep
• Newly described type of immune cell and T cells share similar path to maturity
• Power of prayer: Studies find prayer can lead to cooperation, forgiveness in relationships
• No significant change seen in overall smokeless tobacco use among U.S. youths
• Entrepreneur giving space shuttle truss new uses
• Using clay to grow bone: Researchers use synthetic silicate to stimulate stem cells into bone cells
• Same musicians play a brand new tune: Unusual interplay of signaling pathways shapes critical eye structure
• Passenger car drivers are more likely to die in crashes with SUVs, regardless of crash ratings
• Chemists demonstrate nanoscale alloys so bright they could have potential medical applications
• Engineered biomaterial could improve success of medical implants
• Studies support population-based efforts to lower excessive dietary sodium intakes
• Human disease leptospirosis identified in new species, the banded mongoose, in Africa
• Mining the botulinum genome
• First precise MEMS output measurement technique unveiled
• Cutting-edge bacteria research leads to more effective treatment of complex infections
• When green means danger: A stunning new species of palm-pitviper from Honduras
• New software spots, isolates cyber-attacks to protect networked control systems
• Cooling ocean temperature could buy more time for coral reefs
• Making gold green: New non-toxic method for mining gold
• Become a marathon runner with the protein PGC-1alpha
• Learning to recycle: Does political ideology matter?
• Illusion of control: Why sports fans prefer 'lucky' products
• New principle may help explain why nature is quantum
• Scientists uncover fundamental property of astatine -- rarest naturally occurring element on Earth
• Technique helps robotic vehicles find their way, help humans
• Alzheimer's markers predict start of mental decline
• From ocean to land: The fishy origins of our hips
• Flu in pregnancy may quadruple child's risk for bipolar disorder
• Alligator stem cell study gives clues to tooth regeneration
• Fish oil may stall effects of junk food on brain
• IT industry ignores silver surfers at its peril: Design for seniors to tap market, industry urged
• Do potatoes grow on vines? A review of the wild relatives of some favorite food plants
• Common myths about digital piracy busted
• Flower power fights orchard pests
• Advertising product results? Put images closer together
• Relationship troubles? Some sad music might help you feel better
• Microbes capture, store, and release nitrogen to feed reef-building coral
• Corals turn to algae for stored food when times get tough
• Bacterium counteracts 'coffee ring effect'
• Water governs cell movement: Aquaporins play key role, new research finds
• Most complete database to date of human phosphatases and their substrates
• Sulfate aerosols cool climate less than assumed
• Could carbon dioxide be injected in sandstone? Would it stay there?
• Searching for clandestine graves with geophysical tools
• Scientists use crowd-sourcing to help map global carbon dioxide emissions

Fossil saved from mule track revolutionizes understanding of ancient dolphin-like marine reptile Posted: 14 May 2013 06:31 PM PDT Scientists have revealed a new species of ichthyosaur (a dolphin-like marine reptile from the age of dinosaurs) from Iraq, which revolutionizes our understanding of the evolution and extinction of these ancient marine reptiles.

Treatment with two osteoporosis drugs better at increasing bone density than single-drug therapy Posted: 14 May 2013 06:31 PM PDT A combination of two FDA-approved osteoporosis drugs with different mechanisms of action was found to increase bone density better than treatment with either drug alone in a small clinical trial.

Mum and dad dinosaurs shared the work Posted: 14 May 2013 06:31 PM PDT A study into the brooding behavior of birds has revealed their dinosaur ancestors shared the load when it came to incubation of eggs.

'Magic bullet’ nanomedicine developed for acute lung injury Posted: 14 May 2013 06:31 PM PDT Researchers have devised a 'magic bullet' nanomedicine which could become the first effective treatment for Acute Lung Injury or ALI, a condition affecting 20 per cent of all patients in intensive care.

'Owning' a darker skin can positively impact racial bias, study finds Posted: 14 May 2013 06:30 PM PDT Scientists in the UK have found that when white Caucasians are under the illusion that they have a dark skin, their racial bias changes in a positive way.

Women's immune systems remain younger for longer Posted: 14 May 2013 06:30 PM PDT Women's immune systems age more slowly than men's, new research suggests. The slower decline in a woman's immune system may contribute to women living longer than men.

Slim women have a greater risk of developing endometriosis than obese women: study Posted: 14 May 2013 06:30 PM PDT Women with a lean body shape have a greater risk of developing endometriosis than women who are morbidly obese, according to the largest prospective study to investigate the link.

Nearly 50 percent increase in ICU admissions in U.S., new study says Posted: 14 May 2013 06:29 PM PDT A new study offers an in-depth look at hospitals nationwide in the United States and admissions to intensive care units (ICU). The study finds a sharp increase—nearly 50 percent—in ICU admissions coming from U.S. emergency departments.

New uses for tiny carbon nanotubes: Adding ionic liquid to nanotube films could build smaller gadgets Posted: 14 May 2013 04:06 PM PDT Nanotubes are stronger than steel and smaller than any element of silicon-based electronics. They can potentially process information faster while using less energy. The challenge has been figuring out how to incorporate these properties into useful electronic devices. Now scientists have discovered that by adding ionic liquid -- a kind of liquid salt -- they can modify the optical transparency of single-walled carbon nanotube films in a controlled pattern.

Massage therapy shown to improve stress response in preterm infants Posted: 14 May 2013 04:06 PM PDT A new study has found massage therapy that involved moderate pressure and stroking of the soft tissues followed by flexing and extending the joints of the arms and legs increased heart rate variability in male, but not in female preterm infants.

Study IDs key protein for cell death Posted: 14 May 2013 04:06 PM PDT Findings may offer a new way to kill cancer cells by forcing them into an alternative programmed-death pathway.

Research helps paint finer picture of massive 1700 earthquake Posted: 14 May 2013 04:06 PM PDT In 1700, a massive earthquake struck the west coast of North America, but a lack of local documentation has made studying this historic event challenging. Now, researchers have helped unlock this geological mystery using a fossil-based technique. Their work provides a finer-grained portrait of this earthquake and the changes in coastal land level it produced, enabling modelers to better prepare for future events.

Cardio and weight training reduces access to health care in seniors Posted: 14 May 2013 03:53 PM PDT Forget apples -- lifting weights and doing cardio can also keep the doctors away, according a new study.

Male testosterone levels increase when victorious in competition against rivals, but not friends Posted: 14 May 2013 03:53 PM PDT A study has found that testosterone levels during group competition are modulated depending on the relationships among the competitors and may be related to the formation of alliances in warfare.

Trying to be happier works when listening to upbeat music Posted: 14 May 2013 03:53 PM PDT Recent research discovered that an individual can indeed successfully try to be happier, especially when cheery music aids the process. This research points to ways that people can actively improve their moods and corroborates earlier research.

Getting a grip on sleep Posted: 14 May 2013 03:45 PM PDT All mammals sleep, as do birds and some insects. However, how this basic function is regulated by the brain remains unclear. According to a new study, a brain region called the lateral habenula plays a central role in the regulation of REM sleep.

Newly described type of immune cell and T cells share similar path to maturity Posted: 14 May 2013 03:43 PM PDT Innate lymphoid cells protect boundary tissues such as the skin, lung, and the gut from microbial onslaught. They also have shown they play a role in inflammatory disease. Researchers have found that maturation of ILC2s requires T-cell factor 1 to move forward. They describe that one mechanism used to build ILCs is the same as that in T cells. Both cell types use a protein pathway centered on Notch.

Power of prayer: Studies find prayer can lead to cooperation, forgiveness in relationships Posted: 14 May 2013 03:41 PM PDT Praying for a romantic partner or close friend can lead to more cooperative and forgiving behavior toward the partner, according to a new study.

No significant change seen in overall smokeless tobacco use among U.S. youths Posted: 14 May 2013 03:41 PM PDT Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Declines in smoking among youths were observed from the late 1990s. "However, limited information exists on trends in smokeless tobacco use among U.S. youths," write the authors of a recent study.

Entrepreneur giving space shuttle truss new uses Posted: 14 May 2013 11:11 AM PDT A truss design devised to help workers process space shuttles continues to find new uses as a space shuttle engineer-turned-entrepreneur adapts it to everything from a solar-powered electric generator to a mobile cellphone tower.

Using clay to grow bone: Researchers use synthetic silicate to stimulate stem cells into bone cells Posted: 14 May 2013 10:54 AM PDT Medical researchers report that synthetic silicate nanoplatelets (also known as layered clay) can induce stem cells to become bone cells without the need of additional bone-inducing factors.

Same musicians play a brand new tune: Unusual interplay of signaling pathways shapes critical eye structure Posted: 14 May 2013 10:54 AM PDT A small ensemble of musicians can produce an infinite number of melodies, harmonies and rhythms. So too, do a handful of workhorse signaling pathways that interact to construct multiple structures that comprise the vertebrate body. In fact, crosstalk between two of those pathways -- those governed by proteins known as Notch and BMP (for Bone Morphogenetic Protein) receptors -- occurs over and over in processes as diverse as forming a tooth, sculpting a heart valve and building a brain.

Passenger car drivers are more likely to die in crashes with SUVs, regardless of crash ratings Posted: 14 May 2013 10:54 AM PDT Most consumers who are shopping for a new car depend on good crash safety ratings as an indicator of how well the car will perform in a crash. But a new study of crashes involving cars and sport utility vehicles has found those crash ratings are a lot less relevant than vehicle type.

Chemists demonstrate nanoscale alloys so bright they could have potential medical applications Posted: 14 May 2013 09:28 AM PDT Alloys like bronze and steel have been transformational for centuries, yielding top-of-the-line machines necessary for industry. As scientists move toward nanotechnology, however, the focus has shifted toward creating alloys at the nanometer scale -- producing materials with properties unlike their predecessors. Now, new research demonstrates that nanometer-scale alloys possess the ability to emit light so bright they could have potential applications in medicine.

Engineered biomaterial could improve success of medical implants Posted: 14 May 2013 09:28 AM PDT Expensive, state-of-the-art medical devices and surgeries often are thwarted by the body's natural response to attack something in the tissue that appears foreign. Now, engineers have demonstrated in mice a way to prevent this sort of response.

Studies support population-based efforts to lower excessive dietary sodium intakes Posted: 14 May 2013 09:27 AM PDT Recent studies that examine links between sodium consumption and health outcomes support recommendations to lower sodium intake from the very high levels some Americans consume now, but evidence from these studies does not support reduction in sodium intake to below 2,300 mg per day, says a new report.

Human disease leptospirosis identified in new species, the banded mongoose, in Africa Posted: 14 May 2013 09:27 AM PDT Leptospirosis is the world's most common illness transmitted to humans by animals. It's a two-phase disease that begins with flu-like symptoms. If untreated, it can cause meningitis, liver damage, pulmonary hemorrhage, renal failure and death.

Mining the botulinum genome Posted: 14 May 2013 09:27 AM PDT Scientists have been mining the genome of C. botulinum to uncover new information about the toxin genes that produce the potent toxin behind botulism.

First precise MEMS output measurement technique unveiled Posted: 14 May 2013 09:27 AM PDT The commercial application of MEMS, or micro-electro-mechanical systems, will receive a major boost today following the presentation of a brand new way to accurately measure the power requirements and outputs of all existing and future devices.

Cutting-edge bacteria research leads to more effective treatment of complex infections Posted: 14 May 2013 08:32 AM PDT Bacteria play a huge role when inflammations attack our body. Now researchers have succeeded in revealing one of the devastating effects of bacteria, and thus it will be possible for the pharmaceutical industry to treat even very complicated bacterial infections.

When green means danger: A stunning new species of palm-pitviper from Honduras Posted: 14 May 2013 08:29 AM PDT A remarkable new species of bright green palm-viper has been discovered in a threatened cloud forest in Honduras, and is named to honor grassroots conservationist Mario Guifarro, who was assassinated in 2007. Despite being superficially similar to other Honduran palm pitvipers, the closest relative to the new species lives over 600 km to the south in Costa Rica.

New software spots, isolates cyber-attacks to protect networked control systems Posted: 14 May 2013 08:29 AM PDT Researchers have developed a software algorithm that detects and isolates cyber-attacks on networked control systems -- which are used to coordinate transportation, power and other infrastructure across the United States.

Cooling ocean temperature could buy more time for coral reefs Posted: 14 May 2013 08:28 AM PDT Limiting the amount of warming experienced by the world's oceans in the future could buy some time for tropical coral reefs, say researchers.

Making gold green: New non-toxic method for mining gold Posted: 14 May 2013 08:28 AM PDT Scientists have struck gold in the laboratory. They have discovered an inexpensive and environmentally benign method that uses simple cornstarch -- instead of cyanide -- to isolate gold from raw materials in a selective manner. This green method extracts gold from crude sources and leaves behind other metals that are often found mixed together with the crude gold.

Become a marathon runner with the protein PGC-1alpha Posted: 14 May 2013 08:27 AM PDT Even with a greater muscle mass, a sprinter cannot win a marathon. His specially-trained and strengthened muscles will fatigue faster than the endurance-trained muscles of a long distance runner. Medical researchers have now shown that during endurance exercise the protein PGC-1alpha shifts the metabolic profile in the muscle.

Learning to recycle: Does political ideology matter? Posted: 14 May 2013 08:27 AM PDT Some targeted messages based on political orientation are more effective at persuading consumers to recycle according to a new study.

Illusion of control: Why sports fans prefer 'lucky' products Posted: 14 May 2013 08:27 AM PDT Consumers engage in superstitious behavior when they want to achieve something but don't have the power to make it happen, according to a new study.

New principle may help explain why nature is quantum Posted: 14 May 2013 08:27 AM PDT Like small children, scientists are always asking the question 'Why?'. One question they've yet to answer is why nature picked quantum physics, in all its weird glory, as a sensible way to behave. Researchers tackle this perennial question in a new paper.

Scientists uncover fundamental property of astatine -- rarest naturally occurring element on Earth Posted: 14 May 2013 08:27 AM PDT Scientists have carried out ground-breaking experiments to investigate the atomic structure of astatine (atomic number 85), the rarest naturally occurring element on Earth. Through experiments conducted at the radioactive isotope facility ISOLDE at CERN, scientists have accessed, for the first time, the ionization potential of the astatine atom. The successful measurement fills a long-standing gap in Mendeleev's periodic table, since astatine was the last element present in nature for which this fundamental property was unknown.

Technique helps robotic vehicles find their way, help humans Posted: 14 May 2013 08:26 AM PDT Engineers have developed a technique called LOBOT that provides accurate, real-time, 3-D positions in both indoor and outdoor environments.

Alzheimer's markers predict start of mental decline Posted: 14 May 2013 08:26 AM PDT Using long-term patient data, scientists have found that many of the biomarkers for Alzheimer's identified in recent years can help accurately predict the start of full-blown disease years in advance.

From ocean to land: The fishy origins of our hips Posted: 14 May 2013 07:15 AM PDT New research has revealed that the evolution of the complex, weight-bearing hips of walking animals from the basic hips of fish was a much simpler process than previously thought.

Flu in pregnancy may quadruple child's risk for bipolar disorder Posted: 14 May 2013 07:14 AM PDT Flu in pregnant mothers has been linked to a nearly fourfold increased risk that their child might develop bipolar disorder in adulthood. The findings add to mounting evidence of possible shared underlying causes and illness processes with schizophrenia, which some studies have also linked to prenatal exposure to influenza.

Alligator stem cell study gives clues to tooth regeneration Posted: 14 May 2013 07:14 AM PDT Alligators may help scientists learn how to stimulate tooth regeneration in people, according to new research. For the first time, a global team of researchers has uncovered unique cellular and molecular mechanisms behind tooth renewal in American alligators.

Fish oil may stall effects of junk food on brain Posted: 14 May 2013 07:14 AM PDT Data from more than 180 research papers suggests fish oils could minimize the effects that junk food can have on the brain, a review has shown.

IT industry ignores silver surfers at its peril: Design for seniors to tap market, industry urged Posted: 14 May 2013 07:14 AM PDT Hardware and software vendors are foolish to ignore the needs of the growing population of older computer and information technology users, the so-called "silver surfers." US researchers offer convincing evidence that from the business perspective, seniors represent a rapidly growing sector of the market with the most disposable income to spend on these companies' products.

Do potatoes grow on vines? A review of the wild relatives of some favorite food plants Posted: 14 May 2013 07:14 AM PDT Solanum is is well-known for its agriculturally important species such as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants, but also has many species that are less well known. The vining solanums related to the woody nightshade are often used as ornamentals. A new study completely revises the understanding of these vining species, known as the Dulcamaroid clade, providing extensive community-shared knowledge of the genus.

Common myths about digital piracy busted Posted: 14 May 2013 07:14 AM PDT The results of a large-scale, analysis of BitTorrent file-sharing of computer games, focusing on using open methodologies, bust some of the common myths about digital piracy.

Flower power fights orchard pests Posted: 14 May 2013 07:14 AM PDT Researchers have found they can control one of fruit growers' more severe pests, aphids, with a remarkably benign tool: flowers. The discovery is a boon for organic as well as conventional tree fruit growers. The researchers found that plantings of sweet alyssum attracted a host of spiders and predator bugs that in turn preyed on woolly apple aphids, a pest that growers often control with chemical sprays.

Advertising product results? Put images closer together Posted: 14 May 2013 07:14 AM PDT Consumers believe a product is more effective when images of the product and its desired outcome are placed closer together in advertisements, according to a new study.

Relationship troubles? Some sad music might help you feel better Posted: 14 May 2013 07:14 AM PDT Consumers experiencing relationship problems are more likely to prefer aesthetic experiences that reflect their negative mood, according to a new study.

Microbes capture, store, and release nitrogen to feed reef-building coral Posted: 14 May 2013 05:54 AM PDT Microscopic algae that live within reef-forming corals scoop up available nitrogen, store the excess in crystal form, and slowly feed it to the coral as needed, according to a study published in mBio.

Corals turn to algae for stored food when times get tough Posted: 14 May 2013 05:54 AM PDT Researchers present new evidence for the crucial role of algae in the survival of their coral hosts. Ultra-high resolution images reveal that the algae temporarily store nutrients as crystals, building up reserves for when supplies run low.

Bacterium counteracts 'coffee ring effect' Posted: 14 May 2013 05:53 AM PDT Ever notice how a dried coffee stain has a thicker outer rim, while the middle of the stain remains almost unsoiled? This 'coffee ring effect' also occurs in other materials. Researchers have now discovered how to counteract coffee rings with 'surfactants', i.e. soap. The key to the discovery was not a kitchen towel, but a bacterium that counteracts the coffee ring effect at the microscopic level.

Water governs cell movement: Aquaporins play key role, new research finds Posted: 14 May 2013 05:53 AM PDT Water gives life. Researchers now show how the cells in our bodies are driven mainly by water power -- a discovery that in the long run opens the way for a new strategy in cancer therapy.

Most complete database to date of human phosphatases and their substrates Posted: 14 May 2013 05:53 AM PDT It is now easier to pinpoint exactly what molecules a phosphatase -- a type of protein that's essential for cells to react to their environment -- acts upon in human cells, thanks to the free online database DEPOD, created by EMBL scientists. Published today in Science Signaling, the overview of interactions could even help explain unforeseen side-effects of drugs.

Sulfate aerosols cool climate less than assumed Posted: 14 May 2013 05:53 AM PDT Life span of cloud-forming sulfate particles in the air is shorter than assumed due to a sulfur dioxide oxidation pathway which has been neglected in climate models so far.

Could carbon dioxide be injected in sandstone? Would it stay there? Posted: 14 May 2013 05:53 AM PDT As carbon dioxide levels in the Earth's atmosphere top 400 parts per million, options such as storing the greenhouse gas in porous sandstone rock formations found in abundance on the sea floor are of increasing interest. But how do we know if carbon dioxide can be safely injected into spongy sandstone, and that once it is there, that it will stay there?

Searching for clandestine graves with geophysical tools Posted: 14 May 2013 05:52 AM PDT It's very hard to convict a murderer if the victim's body can't be found. And the best way to hide a body is to bury it. Developing new tools to find those clandestine graves is the goal of a small community of researchers spread across several countries.

Scientists use crowd-sourcing to help map global carbon dioxide emissions Posted: 14 May 2013 05:50 AM PDT Climate science researchers from Arizona State University are launching a first-of-its-kind website to better understand and track greenhouse gas emissions from global power plants.

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