ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Milky Way black hole snacks on hot gas
• Value in concentrating solar power to add to electric grid calculated
• Combining strategies speeds the work of enzymes
• U.S. urban trees store carbon, provide billions in economic value, finds state-by-state analysis
• First corneal transplant with pre-loaded donor tissue
• Women with unintended pregnancy are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression
• Sunshine could benefit health and prolong life, study suggests
• Rats take high-speed multisensory snapshots: Smell and touch, sniffing and 'whisking,' are locked in sync
• Theta brainwaves reflect ability to beat built-in bias
• Link between intimate partner violence and depression
• Genes show one big European family
• Turning Alzheimer's fuzzy signals into high definition
• Diet linked to daytime sleepiness and alertness in healthy adults
• Excessive weight gain during pregnancy increases risk of lacerations during childbirth
• Potential therapeutic target for Cushing's disease
• Genetic variations associated with susceptibility to bacteria linked to stomach disorders
• New robotic instruments to provide real-time data on Gulf of Maine red tide
• Discovery holds potential in destroying drug-resistant bacteria
• New delivery for cancer drugs
• How breast cancer cells acquire drug resistance
• 20-million-year-old amber shatters theories of glass as a liquid
• MicroRNA cooperation mutes breast cancer oncogenes
• Women sell themselves short on team projects, study suggests
• Older adults' memory lapses linked to problems processing everyday events
• Restless legs syndrome, insomnia and brain chemistry: A tangled mystery solved?
• Discovery of new hormone opens doors to new type 2 diabetes treatments
• Protecting the heart health of diabetic patients
• New insights into Ebola infection pave the way for much-needed therapies
• Children's 'healthy' foods marketed at children are higher in fat, sugar and salt
• Decline in snow cover spells trouble for many plants, animals
• Nerve stimulation for severe depression changes brain function
• All hospitals should require drug, alcohol tests for physicians, experts say
• Silk and cellulose biologically effective for use in stem cell cartilage repair
• Using anticholinergics for as few as 60 days causes memory problems in older adults
• New mechanism converts natural gas to energy faster, captures carbon dioxide
• Oldest? New 'bone-head' dinosaur hints at higher diversity of small dinosaurs
• Cleaner, low temperature nuclear fuels?
• Do bats know voices of friends they hang out with? Bats may recognize voices of other bats
• Once-a-day pill offers relief from ragweed allergy symptoms
• New research technique can help nanoparticles deliver drug treatments
• Stem cell researchers move toward treatments for rare genetic nerve disease
• Magnetic vortex antennas for wireless data transmission
• Parents who suck on their infants' pacifiers may protect their children against developing allergy
• Experimental drug beneficial in trial to treat a rare sarcoma
• Optimal workout partner encourages less to motivate more
• New perspective needed for role of major Alzheimer's gene
• New class of drug targets skin cancer
• Biomechanical performances of old-fashioned leather and modern football helmets compared
• Ice Age ancestors might have used words in common with us
• Pathogen turns protein into a virulence factor in one easy step
• Sleep problems may increase risk for prostate cancer
• Anti-depressant link to Clostridium difficile infection
• Plants 'talk' to plants to help them grow
• Chaos proves superior to order
• And the beat goes on...: The reliable heartbeat of hibernators
• Laminopathies: Key components in the disease mechanism identified
• The more feathers a male sparrow carries to the nest, the more eggs the female will lay

Milky Way black hole snacks on hot gas Posted: 07 May 2013 05:15 PM PDT The Herschel space observatory has made detailed observations of surprisingly hot gas that may be orbiting or falling towards the supermassive black hole lurking at the center of our Milky Way galaxy.

Value in concentrating solar power to add to electric grid calculated Posted: 07 May 2013 04:58 PM PDT Researchers have quantified the significant value that concentrating solar power plants can add to an electric grid.

Combining strategies speeds the work of enzymes Posted: 07 May 2013 04:58 PM PDT Enzymes could break down cell walls faster -- leading to less expensive biofuels for transportation -- if two enzyme systems are brought together in an industrial setting, new research suggests.

U.S. urban trees store carbon, provide billions in economic value, finds state-by-state analysis Posted: 07 May 2013 04:58 PM PDT America's urban forests store an estimated 708 million tons of carbon, an environmental service with an estimated value of $50 billion, according to a recent study.

First corneal transplant with pre-loaded donor tissue Posted: 07 May 2013 04:58 PM PDT The first successful cornea transplant with donor endothelial tissue preloaded by an eye bank has been performed.

Women with unintended pregnancy are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression Posted: 07 May 2013 04:58 PM PDT Women with unintended pregnancy are four times more likely to suffer from postpartum depression at twelve months postpartum, suggests a new study.

Sunshine could benefit health and prolong life, study suggests Posted: 07 May 2013 04:58 PM PDT Exposing skin to sunlight may help to reduce blood pressure, cut the risk of heart attack and stroke -- and even prolong life, a study suggests.

Rats take high-speed multisensory snapshots: Smell and touch, sniffing and 'whisking,' are locked in sync Posted: 07 May 2013 04:56 PM PDT New research from the laboratory shows that rats create high-speed "snapshots" of the environment by synchronized use of the senses of smell (sniffing) and touch (through their whiskers). Furthermore sniffing and "whisking" movements are synchronized at the same phase even when they are running at different frequencies, facilitating integration of multisensory information. The research sheds new light on biological rhythms that may evolutionarily underpin much animal behavior.

Theta brainwaves reflect ability to beat built-in bias Posted: 07 May 2013 04:56 PM PDT Many animals, including humans, harbor ingrained biases to actively obtain rewards and to remain inactive to avoid punishment. Sometimes, however those biases can steer us wrong. A new study finds that theta brainwave activity in the prefrontal cortex predicts how well people can overcome these biases when they are unwanted.

Link between intimate partner violence and depression Posted: 07 May 2013 04:56 PM PDT Not only are women who have experienced violence from their partner (intimate partner violence) at higher risk of becoming depressed, but women who are depressed may also be at increased risk of experiencing intimate partner violence, according to a new study.

Genes show one big European family Posted: 07 May 2013 04:56 PM PDT From Ireland to the Balkans, Europeans are basically one big family, closely related to one another for the past thousand years, according to a new study of the DNA of people from across the continent.

Turning Alzheimer's fuzzy signals into high definition Posted: 07 May 2013 04:54 PM PDT Scientists have discovered that cholinesterase inhibitors allow signals to enter the brain with less background noise. And the drugs work in the sensory cortices, not the more sophisticated processing regions.

Diet linked to daytime sleepiness and alertness in healthy adults Posted: 07 May 2013 01:46 PM PDT A new study suggests that your level of sleepiness or alertness during the day may be related to the type of food that you eat.

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy increases risk of lacerations during childbirth Posted: 07 May 2013 01:42 PM PDT Excessive weight gain during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of lacerations during vaginal childbirth, according to a new study. Among more than 1,000 women who participated in the study, 126 experienced a significant increase in their body mass index (BMI), both +1 and +2 category changes, according to the criteria established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Of those women, 85.5 percent experienced lacerations compared to 69 percent with no change in BMI category.

Potential therapeutic target for Cushing's disease Posted: 07 May 2013 01:42 PM PDT Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have identified a protein that drives the formation of pituitary tumors in Cushing's disease, a development that may give clinicians a therapeutic target to treat this potentially life-threatening disorder.

Genetic variations associated with susceptibility to bacteria linked to stomach disorders Posted: 07 May 2013 01:42 PM PDT Two genome-wide association studies and a subsequent meta-analysis have found that certain genetic variations are associated with susceptibility to Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria that is a major cause of gastritis and stomach ulcers and is linked to stomach cancer, findings that may help explain some of the observed variation in individual risk for H pylori infection.

New robotic instruments to provide real-time data on Gulf of Maine red tide Posted: 07 May 2013 12:50 PM PDT A new robotic sensor deployed coastal waters may transform the way red tides or harmful algal blooms are monitored and managed in New England. The instrument was launched at the end of last month, and a second such system will be deployed later this spring.

Discovery holds potential in destroying drug-resistant bacteria Posted: 07 May 2013 12:50 PM PDT Through the serendipity of science, researchers have discovered a potential treatment for deadly, drug-resistant bacterial infections that uses the same approach that HIV uses to infect cells. New research is especially promising in the development of a potential treatment for lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis.

New delivery for cancer drugs Posted: 07 May 2013 12:49 PM PDT Nanopharmaceuticals are beginning to demonstrate their capacity to place the drugs directly in the tumor, where they will do the most good, rather than let them roam freely in the body.

How breast cancer cells acquire drug resistance Posted: 07 May 2013 12:49 PM PDT A seven-year quest to understand how breast cancer cells resist treatment with the targeted therapy lapatinib has revealed a previously unknown molecular network that regulates cell death. The discovery provides new avenues to overcome drug resistance, according to new research.

20-million-year-old amber shatters theories of glass as a liquid Posted: 07 May 2013 12:49 PM PDT Fact or fiction? Stained glass found in medieval cathedrals becomes thicker at the bottom because glass moves over time. For years researchers have had their doubts, now scientists have further evidence that glass is not going anywhere.

MicroRNA cooperation mutes breast cancer oncogenes Posted: 07 May 2013 10:46 AM PDT A new study shows that turning up a few microRNAs a little may offer as much anti-breast-cancer activity as turning up one microRNA a lot – and without the unwanted side effects.

Women sell themselves short on team projects, study suggests Posted: 07 May 2013 10:46 AM PDT Working on a team is always a challenge, but a new study highlights a particular challenge to women: how much they credit themselves in a joint success. Women will devalue their contributions when working with men but not with other women, according to the new research. The study suggests yet another reason why women still tend to be under-represented at the highest echelons of many organizations.

Older adults' memory lapses linked to problems processing everyday events Posted: 07 May 2013 10:46 AM PDT Some memory problems common to older adults may stem from an inability to segment daily life into discrete experiences, according to a new study.

Restless legs syndrome, insomnia and brain chemistry: A tangled mystery solved? Posted: 07 May 2013 10:46 AM PDT Researchers believe they may have discovered an explanation for the sleepless nights associated with restless legs syndrome, a symptom that persists even when the disruptive, overwhelming nocturnal urge to move the legs is treated successfully with medication.

Discovery of new hormone opens doors to new type 2 diabetes treatments Posted: 07 May 2013 10:45 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that a particular type of protein (hormone) found in fat cells helps regulate how glucose (blood sugar) is controlled and metabolized in the liver. Using experimental models and state-of-the-art technology, the scientists found that switching off this protein leads to better control of glucose production from the liver, revealing a potential new target that may be used to treat type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

Protecting the heart health of diabetic patients Posted: 07 May 2013 10:45 AM PDT Diabetics have an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease and plaque build-up in their arteries, even if they receive cholesterol-lowering therapies. New research reveals that high blood sugar levels also boost the production of inflammatory cells, which contribute to plaque in blood vessels.

New insights into Ebola infection pave the way for much-needed therapies Posted: 07 May 2013 10:45 AM PDT The Ebola virus is among the deadliest viruses on the planet, killing up to 90 percent of those infected. A new study reveals how the most abundant protein making up the Ebola virus -- viral protein 40 -- allows the virus to leave host cells and spread infection to other cells throughout the human body. The findings could lay the foundation for the development of new drugs and strategies for fighting Ebola infection.

Children's 'healthy' foods marketed at children are higher in fat, sugar and salt Posted: 07 May 2013 10:44 AM PDT Foods being marketed to children in UK supermarkets are less healthy than those marketed to the general population according to researchers who question whether more guidelines may be needed in regulating food marketed to children.

Decline in snow cover spells trouble for many plants, animals Posted: 07 May 2013 10:44 AM PDT For plants and animals forced to tough out harsh winter weather, the coverlet of snow that blankets the north country is a refuge, a stable beneath-the-snow habitat that gives essential respite from biting winds and subzero temperatures.

Nerve stimulation for severe depression changes brain function Posted: 07 May 2013 10:44 AM PDT For nearly a decade, doctors have used implanted electronic stimulators to treat severe depression in people who don't respond to standard antidepressant treatments. Now, preliminary brain scan studies are revealing that vagus nerve stimulation brings about changes in brain metabolism weeks or even months before patients begin to feel better.

All hospitals should require drug, alcohol tests for physicians, experts say Posted: 07 May 2013 09:48 AM PDT To improve patient safety, hospitals should randomly test physicians for drug and alcohol use in much the same way other major industries in the United States do to protect their customers.

Silk and cellulose biologically effective for use in stem cell cartilage repair Posted: 07 May 2013 09:48 AM PDT Over 20 million people in Europe suffer from osteoarthritis which can lead to extensive damage to the knee and hip cartilage. Stem cells offer a promising way forward but a key challenge has been to design a 'smart material' that is biologically effective for cartilage tissue regeneration. Now researchers have identified a blend of naturally occurring fibers such as cellulose and silk that makes progress towards affordable and effective cell-based therapy for cartilage repair a step closer.

Using anticholinergics for as few as 60 days causes memory problems in older adults Posted: 07 May 2013 09:48 AM PDT Research on medications commonly taken by older adults has found that drugs with strong anticholinergic effects cause cognitive impairment when taken continuously for as few as 60 days. A similar impact can be seen with 90 days of continuous use when taking multiple drugs with weak anticholinergic effect.

New mechanism converts natural gas to energy faster, captures carbon dioxide Posted: 07 May 2013 09:48 AM PDT Chemical engineering researchers have identified a new mechanism to convert natural gas into energy up to 70 times faster, while effectively capturing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

Oldest? New 'bone-head' dinosaur hints at higher diversity of small dinosaurs Posted: 07 May 2013 09:48 AM PDT Scientists have named a new species of bone-headed dinosaur (pachycephalosaur) from Alberta, Canada. The plant-eating Acrotholus audeti was approximately six feet long and weighed about 40 kgs in life. It represents the oldest bone-headed dinosaur in North America, and possibly the world.

Cleaner, low temperature nuclear fuels? Posted: 07 May 2013 08:55 AM PDT The search for cleaner, low temperature nuclear fuels has produced a surprising result for a team of experts. First they created a stable version of a 'trophy molecule' that has eluded scientists for decades. Now they have discovered that the bonding within this molecule is far different than expected. Remarkably their findings have shown that it behaves in much the same way as its counterparts in the well-known transitional metals such as chromium, molybdenum and tungsten.

Do bats know voices of friends they hang out with? Bats may recognize voices of other bats Posted: 07 May 2013 08:55 AM PDT Is it possible that mammals have the ability to recognize individuals of the same species, whom they know well, by their voice? A new study has found that even in nocturnal, fast-moving animals such as bats, there is an ability to recognize certain vocal aspects of other bats from their social groups.

Once-a-day pill offers relief from ragweed allergy symptoms Posted: 07 May 2013 08:55 AM PDT A once-daily tablet containing a high dose of a key ragweed pollen protein effectively blocks the runny noses, sneezes, nasal congestion and itchy eyes experienced by ragweed allergy sufferers.

New research technique can help nanoparticles deliver drug treatments Posted: 07 May 2013 08:55 AM PDT A researcher has successfully tested a technique that can lead to more effective use of nanoparticles as a drug delivery system.

Stem cell researchers move toward treatments for rare genetic nerve disease Posted: 07 May 2013 08:55 AM PDT Researchers have used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) to advance disease-in-a-dish modeling of a rare genetic disorder, Ataxia Telangiectasia. Their discovery shows positive effects of drugs that may lead to effective new treatments for the neurodegenerative disease. iPSC are made from patient skin cells rather than from embryos and can become any type of cells in the laboratory.

Magnetic vortex antennas for wireless data transmission Posted: 07 May 2013 07:54 AM PDT Three-dimensional magnetic vortices have recently been discovered. Vortex states are potential antennas for the ultrafast, wireless data transmission of tomorrow.

Parents who suck on their infants' pacifiers may protect their children against developing allergy Posted: 07 May 2013 07:31 AM PDT Allergies are very common in industrialized countries. It has been suggested that exposure to harmless bacteria during infancy may be protective against the development of allergy. However, it has been difficult to pinpoint which bacteria a baby should be exposed to, and at what time and by which route this exposure should ideally occur.

Experimental drug beneficial in trial to treat a rare sarcoma Posted: 07 May 2013 07:30 AM PDT Patients with advanced alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS), a rare cancer, achieved some control of their disease using an experimental anti-cancer drug called cediranib.

Optimal workout partner encourages less to motivate more Posted: 07 May 2013 07:30 AM PDT The best workout partner may be one who understands that silence is golden, according to a new study.

New perspective needed for role of major Alzheimer's gene Posted: 07 May 2013 06:58 AM PDT Scientists' picture of how a gene strongly linked to Alzheimer's disease harms the brain may have to be revised, researchers have found.

New class of drug targets skin cancer Posted: 07 May 2013 06:58 AM PDT A new class of drug targeting skin cancer's genetic material has been successfully tested in humans for the first time, opening the way to new treatments for a range of conditions from skin cancers to eye diseases.

Biomechanical performances of old-fashioned leather and modern football helmets compared Posted: 07 May 2013 04:57 AM PDT Researchers have compared the relative safety afforded by two 1930-vintage leather football helmets and 10 modern football helmets during impacts to players' heads. These researchers found that all 10 modern helmets provided significantly more protection than leather helmets used in the first half of the twentieth century, and demonstrated that differences also exist between modern helmets.

Ice Age ancestors might have used words in common with us Posted: 07 May 2013 04:46 AM PDT New research shows that Ice Age people living in Europe 15,000 years ago might have used forms of some common words including I, you, we, man and bark, that in some cases could still be recognized today.

Pathogen turns protein into a virulence factor in one easy step Posted: 07 May 2013 03:11 AM PDT To infect its host, the respiratory pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa takes an ordinary protein usually involved in making other proteins and adds three small molecules to turn it into a key for gaining access to human cells. Researchers have now uncovered this previously unknown virulence factor in P. aeruginosa, one of the most common causes of hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Sleep problems may increase risk for prostate cancer Posted: 07 May 2013 03:11 AM PDT Problems falling asleep and staying asleep increased the risk for prostate cancer. The association was stronger for advanced disease. Larger studies with longer follow-up are necessary for confirmation.

Anti-depressant link to Clostridium difficile infection Posted: 07 May 2013 03:10 AM PDT Certain types of anti-depressants have been linked to an increase in the risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) finds a new study. Awareness of this link should improve identification and early treatment of CDI.

Plants 'talk' to plants to help them grow Posted: 07 May 2013 03:08 AM PDT Having a neighborly chat improves seed germination, finds new research. Even when other known means of communication, such as contact, chemical and light-mediated signals, are blocked, chilli seeds grow better when grown with basil plants. This suggests that plants are talking via nanomechanical vibrations.

Chaos proves superior to order Posted: 07 May 2013 03:08 AM PDT Physicists have demonstrated that chaos can beat order - at least as far as light storage is concerned.

And the beat goes on...: The reliable heartbeat of hibernators Posted: 07 May 2013 03:08 AM PDT At the current temperatures, all hibernators have probably emerged from their winter hibernation and are enjoying the warm weather. However, this is quite different during the cold season. Many small mammals such as marmots, hedgehogs, bats and some hamsters, and even some birds have a particular skill: they can induce a state of inactivity and reduced metabolic rate to significantly lower their energy consumption when food becomes limited and ambient temperatures drop.

Laminopathies: Key components in the disease mechanism identified Posted: 07 May 2013 03:08 AM PDT Laminopathies are hereditary diseases that affect mainly the muscle tissue. These diseases include for example Emery-Dreifuss Muscular dystrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and Hutchison-Gilford progeria syndrome.

The more feathers a male sparrow carries to the nest, the more eggs the female will lay Posted: 07 May 2013 03:08 AM PDT A new study has found that female sparrows will invest more energy into laying eggs according to the male's ability to fill the nest with feathers which serve to insulate the chicks from the cold and keep them alive.

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