ScienceDaily: Top News

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• 'Brown ocean' can fuel inland tropical cyclones
• Self-perpetuating signals may drive tumor cells to spread
• Weight gain early in pregnancy means bigger, fatter babies
• Rare fossil of late Cretaceous plesiosaur discovered
• Step closer to custom-building new blood vessels
• Research supports mosquito indexing system that identifies best time to act against potential West Nile virus outbreaks
• Multiple sclerosis drug shows promise for preventing heart failure
• Ecological forces structure your body's personal mix of microbes
• Steering stem cells with magnets
• Predicting long-term success in college
• Levitation: Droplets surfing on sound waves
• Tooth is 'smoking gun' evidence that Tyrannosaurus rex was hunter, killer
• Manure used by Europe's first farmers 8,000 years ago
• New nanoscale imaging method finds application in plasmonics
• Eye-tracking could outshine passwords if made user-friendly
• Broadband photodetector for polarized light
• Researchers shed new light on supraglacial lake drainage
• Deepwater Horizon debris was likely source of Gulf of Mexico oil sheens
• People with pre-diabetes who drop substantial weight may ward off type 2 diabetes
• Bioengineers develop new approach to regenerate back discs
• How patients experience direct-to-consumer genetic testing
• Tide is turning in skin cancer battle
• Damaging non-native forest pests at home in northeastern U.S.
• Young children with autism benefit regardless of high-quality treatment model
• Mathematical models target disease with drugs chosen by your DNA
• Prostate cancers are fewer, smaller on walnut-enriched diet
• New model to improve vehicle-to-vehicle communication for 'intelligent transportation'
• Where's Waldo? A new alien-like species discovered off California
• Trade-offs between food security and climate change mitigation explored
• What are fructooliogosaccharides and how do they provide digestive, immunity and bone health benefits?
• Genetic secrets of the world's toughest little bird
• Genetic changes that may contribute to the onset of schizophrenia identified
• Even healthy-looking smokers have early cell damage which destroys necessary genetic programming
• New thermocell could harvest 'waste heat' from power stations and even vehicle exhaust pipes
• Novel study using new technologies outlines importance of California condor social groups
• Sanction mechanism identified between ants and host plants
• Dogs imitate novel human actions and store them in memory
• New findings on makeup of universe may spawn research
• Nanoparticles with protein 'passports' evade immune system, deliver more medication to tumors
• Inner speech speaks volumes about the brain
• RNA-interference pesticides will need special safety testing
• H7N9 influenza strain resistant to antivirals, but tests fail to identify resistance
• Fat in organs and blood may increase risk of osteoporosis
• New Web-enabled technology records the presence of species by analyzing their sounds
• A close Bond: How the CIA exploited 007 for gadget ideas and public relations
• Keys to reducing the impact of agriculture on climate change
• Artificial organelles transform free radicals into water and oxygen
• Big crab claws for bling or bang?
• How successful plants take the lead
• New mode of cellular communication discovered in the brain
• Intestinal bacteria linked to white blood cell cancer
• People who eat nuts more than three times a week have reduced risk of dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease

'Brown ocean' can fuel inland tropical cyclones Posted: 16 Jul 2013 02:38 PM PDT In the summer of 2007, Tropical Storm Erin stumped meteorologists. Most tropical cyclones dissipate after making landfall, weakened by everything from friction and wind shear to loss of the ocean as a source of heat energy. Not Erin. The storm intensified as it tracked through Texas. Erin is an example of a newly defined type of inland tropical cyclone that maintains or increases strength after landfall. Storms in the newly defined category derive their energy from the evaporation of abundant soil moisture -- a phenomenon that experts call the "brown ocean."

Self-perpetuating signals may drive tumor cells to spread Posted: 16 Jul 2013 01:21 PM PDT Scientists have identified a self-perpetuating signaling circuit inside connective tissue cells that allows these cells to form a front and a back and propel themselves in a particular direction over a long period of time. This propulsion is the same movement that tumor cells use to invade healthy tissue during cancer metastasis so cracking the code to this signaling network may lead to new therapeutic strategies.

Weight gain early in pregnancy means bigger, fatter babies Posted: 16 Jul 2013 01:21 PM PDT A researcher cautions against too much weight early into pregnancy, which leads to larger, chubbier babies.

Rare fossil of late Cretaceous plesiosaur discovered Posted: 16 Jul 2013 01:19 PM PDT Researchers have discovered the fossilized remains of an elasmosaur. A subgroup of the late Cretaceous plesiosaurs, the elasmosaurid plesiosaurs are recognized by their large body size and shape. This find is only the second elasmosaurid specimen containing more than one or two bones found in Alabama.

Step closer to custom-building new blood vessels Posted: 16 Jul 2013 01:18 PM PDT Researchers have coaxed stem cells into forming networks of new blood vessels in the laboratory, then successfully transplanted them into mice. The stem cells are made by reprogramming ordinary cells, so the new technique could potentially be used to make blood vessels genetically matched to individual patients and unlikely to be rejected by their immune systems, the investigators say.

Research supports mosquito indexing system that identifies best time to act against potential West Nile virus outbreaks Posted: 16 Jul 2013 01:18 PM PDT Researchers have unlocked some of the mysteries of West Nile virus outbreaks and shown that use of a mosquito vector-index rating system works well to identify the best time for early intervention.

Multiple sclerosis drug shows promise for preventing heart failure Posted: 16 Jul 2013 11:40 AM PDT A drug already approved to treat multiple sclerosis may also hold promise for treating cardiac hypertrophy, or thickening of the cardiac muscle -- a disorder that often leads to heart failure, researchers report.

Ecological forces structure your body's personal mix of microbes Posted: 16 Jul 2013 11:40 AM PDT Environmental conditions have a stronger influence on the mix of microbes living in your body than does competition between species. Instead of excluding each other, microbes that fiercely compete for similar resources are more likely to cohabit the same individual. The findings are a step toward building a predictive model of the human microbiome to study how medical conditions change this massive biological system, identify how to promote beneficial microbiomes, and design interventions for hard-to-manage problems like chronic digestive inflammation.

Steering stem cells with magnets Posted: 16 Jul 2013 11:40 AM PDT By feeding stem cells tiny particles made of magnetized iron oxide, scientists can then use magnets to attract the cells to a particular location in the body.

Predicting long-term success in college Posted: 16 Jul 2013 11:40 AM PDT Long-term success in college may be better predicted with Advanced Placement (AP) exams and personality traits in combination with standard admission practices, according to new research.

Levitation: Droplets surfing on sound waves Posted: 16 Jul 2013 11:07 AM PDT Researchers are able to make objects such as particles and liquid droplets fly in mid-air by letting them ride on acoustic waves. For the first time, they have been able to also control the movement of objects, merge droplets, letting them react chemically or biologically and even rotate a toothpick in the air.

Tooth is 'smoking gun' evidence that Tyrannosaurus rex was hunter, killer Posted: 16 Jul 2013 10:58 AM PDT Tyrannosaurus rex has long been popular with kids and moviemakers as the most notorious, vicious killing machine to roam the planet during the age of the dinosaurs. So, it may come as a shock that for more than a century some paleontologists have argued that T. rex was a scavenger, not a true predator -- more like a vulture than a lion. Indeed, a lack of definitive fossil proof of predation in the famous theropod has stirred controversy among scientists -- until now. Researchers have unearthed "smoking gun" physical proof that T. rex was indeed a predator, hunter and killer.

Manure used by Europe's first farmers 8,000 years ago Posted: 16 Jul 2013 10:47 AM PDT A new study says Europe's first farmers used far more sophisticated practices than was previously thought. Scientists have found that Neolithic farmers manured and watered their crops as early as 6,000 BC.

New nanoscale imaging method finds application in plasmonics Posted: 16 Jul 2013 10:22 AM PDT Researchers have shown how to make nanoscale measurements of critical properties of plasmonic nanomaterials, the specially engineered nanostructures that modify the interaction of light and matter for a variety of applications including sensors, cloaking (invisibility), photovoltaics and therapeutics.

Eye-tracking could outshine passwords if made user-friendly Posted: 16 Jul 2013 10:22 AM PDT Engineers found in a recent study that the user's experience could be key to creating an authentication system that doesn't rely on passwords.

Broadband photodetector for polarized light Posted: 16 Jul 2013 10:21 AM PDT Using carpets of aligned carbon nanotubes, researchers have created a solid-state electronic device that is hardwired to detect polarized light across a broad swath of the visible and infrared spectrum.

Researchers shed new light on supraglacial lake drainage Posted: 16 Jul 2013 10:21 AM PDT Supraglacial lakes -- bodies of water that collect on the surface of the Greenland ice sheet -- lubricate the bottom of the sheet when they drain, causing it to flow faster. Differences in how the lakes drain can impact glacial movement's speed and direction, researchers report.

Deepwater Horizon debris was likely source of Gulf of Mexico oil sheens Posted: 16 Jul 2013 10:21 AM PDT A chemical analysis of oil sheens found floating recently at the ocean's surface near the site of the Deepwater Horizon disaster indicates that the source is pockets of oil trapped within the wreckage of the sunken rig. Both the Macondo well and natural oil seeps common to the Gulf of Mexico were confidently ruled out.

People with pre-diabetes who drop substantial weight may ward off type 2 diabetes Posted: 16 Jul 2013 10:19 AM PDT People with pre-diabetes who lose roughly 10 percent of their body weight within six months of diagnosis dramatically reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the next three years, according to new research.

Bioengineers develop new approach to regenerate back discs Posted: 16 Jul 2013 09:01 AM PDT Cell therapies may stop or reverse the pain and disability of degenerative disc disease and the loss of material between vertebrae, according to scientists.

How patients experience direct-to-consumer genetic testing Posted: 16 Jul 2013 09:01 AM PDT Several companies sell genetic testing directly to consumers, but little research has been done on how consumers experience such tests. Now, a new study is providing insight into how a diverse sample of primary care patients experience genetic testing.

Tide is turning in skin cancer battle Posted: 16 Jul 2013 09:01 AM PDT Recent advances have put melanoma at the forefront of cancer research, raising hopes that scientists and clinicians may have cornered the deadliest of all skin cancers.

Damaging non-native forest pests at home in northeastern U.S. Posted: 16 Jul 2013 09:01 AM PDT Scientists have used spatial data to demonstrate that the distribution of invasive forest pests is highly focused, with a particularly large number of species established in the northeastern region and then moderate but still troublesome numbers radiating to the west and south.

Young children with autism benefit regardless of high-quality treatment model Posted: 16 Jul 2013 09:00 AM PDT Researchers have found that preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder who receive high-quality early intervention benefit developmentally regardless of the treatment model used -- a surprising result that may have important implications for special-education programs and school classrooms across the country.

Mathematical models target disease with drugs chosen by your DNA Posted: 16 Jul 2013 09:00 AM PDT Medicines that are personally tailored to your DNA are becoming a reality, thanks to the work of U.S. and Chinese scientists who developed statistical models to predict which drug is best for a specific individual with a specific disease.

Prostate cancers are fewer, smaller on walnut-enriched diet Posted: 16 Jul 2013 09:00 AM PDT New research indicates that eating a modest amount of walnuts can protect against prostate cancer.

New model to improve vehicle-to-vehicle communication for 'intelligent transportation' Posted: 16 Jul 2013 09:00 AM PDT Imagine a transportation system where vehicles communicate directly with each other in real time, giving drivers warnings about traffic delays, allowing a single driver to control multiple vehicles or routing vehicles around hazardous road conditions. Those are all aspects of the "intelligent transportation" concept. And researchers have developed a model to improve the clarity of the vehicle-to-vehicle transmissions needed to make that concept a reality.

Where's Waldo? A new alien-like species discovered off California Posted: 16 Jul 2013 09:00 AM PDT After nearly 25 years of searching, three scientists have finally found Waldo. No, not the loveable bespectacled character in children's picture books, but rather an unusual clam discovered off the coast of California and British Columbia.

Trade-offs between food security and climate change mitigation explored Posted: 16 Jul 2013 09:00 AM PDT Improving agricultural productivity could help cut greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, shows new research. But, sustainable farming methods are key.

What are fructooliogosaccharides and how do they provide digestive, immunity and bone health benefits? Posted: 16 Jul 2013 08:57 AM PDT New research has focused on the health benefits of short-chain fructooliogosaccharides (scFOS), which are low-calorie, non-digestible carbohydrates that can improve food taste and texture while aiding immunity, bone health and the growth and balance of important bacteria in the digestive track.

Genetic secrets of the world's toughest little bird Posted: 16 Jul 2013 07:21 AM PDT New research reveals the genetic secrets of how a small bird can survive in one of the most hostile environments on earth. The ground tit (Parus humilis), lives in the Tibetan plateau, the largest high-altitude land mass in the world. This study has found molecular signatures in the ground tit genome which reveal how it copes with the extreme living conditions of this habitat.

Genetic changes that may contribute to the onset of schizophrenia identified Posted: 16 Jul 2013 07:21 AM PDT Scientists have discovered rare genetic changes that may be responsible for the onset of schizophrenia. Several of these same genetic lesions had previously been found to have causal links to autism spectrum disorder. This discovery gives new support to the notion that multiple rare genetic changes may contribute to schizophrenia and other brain disorders.

Even healthy-looking smokers have early cell damage which destroys necessary genetic programming Posted: 16 Jul 2013 07:20 AM PDT Smokers who've received a clean bill of health from their doctor may believe cigarettes haven't harmed their lungs. However, researchers have found that even smokers who seem healthy have damaged airway cells, with characteristics similar to cells found in aggressive lung cancer.

New thermocell could harvest 'waste heat' from power stations and even vehicle exhaust pipes Posted: 16 Jul 2013 06:27 AM PDT Harvesting waste heat from power stations and even vehicle exhaust pipes could soon provide a valuable supply of electricity.

Novel study using new technologies outlines importance of California condor social groups Posted: 16 Jul 2013 06:27 AM PDT The intricate social hierarchy of the California condor, an endangered species, is something that could not be studied until recently due to the severe reduction of this population in the wild. The first formal study on this species, based on remote video observation of reintroduced populations, indicates that the species has a complex system of interactions based on dominance.

Sanction mechanism identified between ants and host plants Posted: 16 Jul 2013 06:27 AM PDT In nature, many forms of plant-animal mutualism exist in which each partner benefits from the presence of the other. Although mutualistic interactions offer advantages for both partners, they are nonetheless a source of conflict. Biologists have recently observed an original sanction interaction between a plant and an ant.

Dogs imitate novel human actions and store them in memory Posted: 16 Jul 2013 06:27 AM PDT Dogs can learn, retain and replay actions taught by humans after a short delay. According to a new study this deferred imitation provides the first evidence of dogs' cognitive ability to both encode and recall actions.

New findings on makeup of universe may spawn research Posted: 16 Jul 2013 06:26 AM PDT New areas of extragalactic study may emerge from research by astrophysicists using data from the Chandra Space Telescope to conclude that baryons making up all visible matter – once thought to be missing from clusters – are present in the expected ratios in large, luminous clusters.

Nanoparticles with protein 'passports' evade immune system, deliver more medication to tumors Posted: 16 Jul 2013 06:26 AM PDT Scientists have found a way to sneak nanoparticles carrying tumor-fighting drugs past cells of the immune system, which would normally engulf the particles, preventing them from reaching their target. The technique takes advantage of the fact that all cells in the human body display a protein on their membranes that functions as a specific 'passport' in instructing immune cells not to attack them. By attaching a small piece of this protein to nanoparticles, scientists were able to fool immune cells in mice into recognizing the particles as 'self' rather than foreign, thereby increasing the amount of medication delivered to tumors.

Inner speech speaks volumes about the brain Posted: 16 Jul 2013 05:00 AM PDT Whether you're reading the paper or thinking through your schedule for the day, chances are that you're hearing yourself speak even if you're not saying words out loud. This internal speech -- the monologue you "hear" inside your head -- is a ubiquitous but largely unexamined phenomenon. A new study published in Psychological Science looks at a possible brain mechanism that could explain how we hear this inner voice in the absence of actual sound.

RNA-interference pesticides will need special safety testing Posted: 16 Jul 2013 05:00 AM PDT RNA interference technology holds promise for the development of pesticides and genetically-modified crops, but possible harmful effects on beneficial species are a concern. Current safety testing protocols may not detect subtle effects on genes that are nonetheless important at some point during a beneficial species' life cycle.

H7N9 influenza strain resistant to antivirals, but tests fail to identify resistance Posted: 16 Jul 2013 05:00 AM PDT Some strains of the avian H7N9 influenza that emerged in China this year have developed resistance to the only antiviral drugs available to treat the infection, but testing for antiviral resistance can give misleading results, helping hasten the spread of resistant strains.

Fat in organs and blood may increase risk of osteoporosis Posted: 16 Jul 2013 05:00 AM PDT A new study has found that obese people with higher levels of fat in their liver, muscle tissue and blood also have higher amounts of fat in their bone marrow, putting them at risk for osteoporosis.

New Web-enabled technology records the presence of species by analyzing their sounds Posted: 16 Jul 2013 05:00 AM PDT Identifying, and monitoring the fluctuations of thousands of species in tropical ecosystems is a difficult challenge, but newly developed technology now makes it much easier. Scientists report on new cyberinfrastructure which enables real-time acoustic recording and subsequent species identification in remote locations around the world. Thousands of audio recordings of tropical birds, frogs, monkeys, and insects in Puerto Rico and Costa Rica have been captured (using automated stations) and analyzed to identify the species concerned.

A close Bond: How the CIA exploited 007 for gadget ideas and public relations Posted: 16 Jul 2013 04:59 AM PDT The real-life CIA copied outlandish gadgets from Goldfinger and From Russia With Love, according to an analysis of declassified letters and interviews revealing the bond between Ian Fleming and Allen Dulles.

Keys to reducing the impact of agriculture on climate change Posted: 16 Jul 2013 04:58 AM PDT Land is not being used to its best advantage according to a new study by environmental ecologists.

Artificial organelles transform free radicals into water and oxygen Posted: 16 Jul 2013 04:58 AM PDT Researchers have successfully developed artificial organelles that are able to support the reduction of toxic oxygen compounds. This opens up new ways in the development of novel drugs that can influence pathological states directly inside the cell.

Big crab claws for bling or bang? Posted: 16 Jul 2013 04:58 AM PDT Male fiddler crabs tread an evolutionary fine line between growing an enlarged claw better for signalling to females or one better for fighting. Long light claws are better for attracting females, but not for fighting.

How successful plants take the lead Posted: 16 Jul 2013 04:55 AM PDT Why are some plant species rare, and others common? Why do certain exotic plant species become invasive – while others do not? Scientists have now identified the most important environmental and species characteristics for plants to colonize and establish in novel places.

New mode of cellular communication discovered in the brain Posted: 16 Jul 2013 04:55 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a new form of communication between different cell types in the brain. Nerve cells interact with neighboring glial cells, which results in a transfer of protein and genetic information. Nerve cells are thus protected against stressful growth conditions.

Intestinal bacteria linked to white blood cell cancer Posted: 16 Jul 2013 04:52 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that specific types of bacteria that live in the gut are major contributors to lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells that are part of the human immune system.

People who eat nuts more than three times a week have reduced risk of dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease Posted: 15 Jul 2013 05:24 PM PDT People who eat nuts, particularly walnuts, are more likely to live longer, finds new research. In a longitudinal study, researchers suggest that those who eat nuts more than three times a week have a reduced risk of dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease than non-nut eaters.

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