ScienceDaily: Top News

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• First probable person to person transmission of new bird flu virus in China; But H7N9 is not able to spread efficiently between humans
• Length of human pregnancies can vary naturally by as much as five weeks
• Brain molecule regulating human emotion, mood uncovered
• What color is your night light? It may affect your mood
• Study questions nature's ability to 'self-correct' climate change
• Dolphins keep lifelong social memories, longest in a non-human species
• The sun's magnetic field is about to flip
• One tree's architecture reveals secrets of a forest
• Size matters in nanocrystals' ability to adsorb/release gases
• Explosion illuminates invisible galaxy in the dark ages
• Sleep deprivation linked to junk food cravings
• New and remarkable details of the sun now available from Big Bear Observatory
• Hormone receptors may regulate effect of nutrition on life expectancy not only in roundworms, but perhaps also in humans
• Battery design gets boost from aligned carbon nanotubes
• How plants avoid sunburn: Findings could lead to crops with increased protection from bright light and enhanced photosynthesis
• A layer of tiny grains can slow sound waves
• Altering organic molecules' interaction with light
• Evolutionary relationships among species of 'magic' mushrooms shed light on fungi
• Why tumors become drug-resistant
• Switching between habitual and goal-directed actions: A 'two in one' system in our brain
• Emotional behavior of adults could be triggered in the womb
• Large-area picosecond photodetectors push timing envelope
• High-speed camera captures dancing droplets for scientific 'photo album'
• 'Beetle in spider's clothing:' Quaint new species from Philippine Rainforest Creeks
• Quantum communication controlled by resonance in 'artificial atoms'
• New technique allows closer study of how radiation damages materials
• Soil carbon 'blowing in the wind'
• New design may produce heartier, more effective salmonella-based vaccines
• Bringing light to a halt: Physicists freeze motion of light for a minute
• From harmless colonizers to virulent pathogens: Microbiologists identify what triggers disease
• Online predators not distinctively dangerous sex offenders
• Tidy desk or messy desk? Each has its benefits
• Timber rattlesnakes indirectly benefit human health: Not-so-horrid top predator helps check Lyme disease
• Rapid diversification despite morphological stasis: A snail's pace in a snail's place?
• 'Nursery nests' are better for survival of young black-and-white ruffed lemurs
• Anti-social tendencies of entrepreneurs demonstrated
• Super sunscreen from fjord bacteria
• Breakdown of fat 'on hold': Biochemists discover 'parking position' of fat-burning enzymes
• Stunning image of nearby galaxy M31
• Walking to work cuts risk of diabetes and high blood pressure
• Personality may affect a new mother's decision to breastfeed

First probable person to person transmission of new bird flu virus in China; But H7N9 is not able to spread efficiently between humans Posted: 06 Aug 2013 05:35 PM PDT The first report of probable person to person transmission of the new avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in Eastern China has been documented. The findings provide the strongest evidence yet of H7N9 transmission between humans, but the authors stress that its ability to transmit itself is "limited and non-sustainable."

Length of human pregnancies can vary naturally by as much as five weeks Posted: 06 Aug 2013 05:33 PM PDT The length of a human pregnancy can vary naturally by as much as five weeks, according to new research.

Brain molecule regulating human emotion, mood uncovered Posted: 06 Aug 2013 05:33 PM PDT Scientists have discovered an enzyme called Rines that regulates MAO-A, a major brain protein controlling emotion and mood. The enzyme is a potentially promising drug target for treating diseases associated with emotions such as depression.

What color is your night light? It may affect your mood Posted: 06 Aug 2013 05:31 PM PDT When it comes to some of the health hazards of light at night, a new study in hamsters suggests that the color of the light can make a big difference.

Study questions nature's ability to 'self-correct' climate change Posted: 06 Aug 2013 05:31 PM PDT Forests have a limited capacity to soak up atmospheric carbon dioxide, according to a new study.

Dolphins keep lifelong social memories, longest in a non-human species Posted: 06 Aug 2013 05:31 PM PDT Dolphins can recognize their old tank mates' whistles after being separated for more than 20 years — the longest social memory ever recorded for a non-human species.

The sun's magnetic field is about to flip Posted: 06 Aug 2013 02:16 PM PDT Something big is about to happen on the sun. According to measurements from NASA-supported observatories, the sun's vast magnetic field is about to flip.

One tree's architecture reveals secrets of a forest Posted: 06 Aug 2013 02:16 PM PDT Behind the dazzling variety of shapes and forms in trees lies a remarkably similar architecture based on fundamental, shared principles, ecologists have discovered. The findings allow scientists to draw realistic conclusions about the ecological impacts of trees across landscapes by sampling just a few individuals.

Size matters in nanocrystals' ability to adsorb/release gases Posted: 06 Aug 2013 02:16 PM PDT More efficient catalytic converters on autos, improved batteries and more sensitive gas sensors are some of the potential benefits of a new system that can directly measure the manner in which nanocrystals adsorb and release hydrogen and other gases.

Explosion illuminates invisible galaxy in the dark ages Posted: 06 Aug 2013 12:57 PM PDT More than 12 billion years ago a star exploded, glowing so brightly that it outshone its entire galaxy by a million times. This brilliant flash traveled across space for 12.7 billion years to a planet that hadn't even existed at the time of the explosion -- our Earth. By analyzing this light, astronomers learned about a galaxy that was otherwise too small, faint and far away for even the Hubble Space Telescope to see.

Sleep deprivation linked to junk food cravings Posted: 06 Aug 2013 11:55 AM PDT A sleepless night makes us more likely to reach for doughnuts or pizza than for whole grains and leafy green vegetables, suggests a new study that examines the brain regions that control food choices. The findings shed new light on the link between poor sleep and obesity.

New and remarkable details of the sun now available from Big Bear Observatory Posted: 06 Aug 2013 11:55 AM PDT Researchers have obtained new and remarkably detailed photos of the sun with the New Solar Telescope. The photographs reveal never-before-seen details of solar magnetism revealed in photospheric and chromospheric features.

Hormone receptors may regulate effect of nutrition on life expectancy not only in roundworms, but perhaps also in humans Posted: 06 Aug 2013 11:54 AM PDT A reduced caloric intake increases life expectancy in many species. But how diet prolongs the lives of model organisms such as fruit flies and roundworms has remained a mystery until recently. Scientists have now discovered that a hormone receptor is one of the links between nutrition and life expectancy in the roundworms. The receptor protein NHR-62 increases the lifespan of the animals by twenty per cent if their calorie intake is reduced. Furthermore, another study showed that the hormone receptor NHR-8 affects development into adulthood as well as the maximum lifespan of the worms. It may be possible that receptors related to these are also responsible for regulating life expectancy in human beings.

Battery design gets boost from aligned carbon nanotubes Posted: 06 Aug 2013 11:54 AM PDT A flexible nano-scaffold could help make rechargeable lithium ion batteries last longer. Applications range from improved cell phone batteries to electric cars that can travel farther on a charge.

How plants avoid sunburn: Findings could lead to crops with increased protection from bright light and enhanced photosynthesis Posted: 06 Aug 2013 10:29 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a group of stress-related proteins that explains how plants avoid sunburn in intense light, a finding that one day could help biotechnologists to develop crops that can better cope with hotter, drier conditions occurring in climate change.

A layer of tiny grains can slow sound waves Posted: 06 Aug 2013 10:29 AM PDT Researchers say the findings could lead to a new way of controlling frequencies in electronic devices such as cellphones, but with components that are only a fraction the size of those currently used for that function. On a larger scale, it could lead to new types of blast-shielding material for use in combat or by public-safety personnel or equipment.

Altering organic molecules' interaction with light Posted: 06 Aug 2013 10:28 AM PDT Enhancing and manipulating the light emission of organic molecules is at heart of many important technological and scientific advances, including in the fields of organic light emitting devices, bio-imaging, bio-molecular detection. Researchers have now discovered a new platform that enables dramatic manipulation of the emission of organic molecules when simply suspended on top of a carefully designed planar slab with a periodic array of holes: So-called photonic crystal surface.

Evolutionary relationships among species of 'magic' mushrooms shed light on fungi Posted: 06 Aug 2013 10:28 AM PDT "Magic" mushrooms are known for their hallucinogenic properties. New research helps uncover the evolutionary past of a fascinating fungi that has wide recreational use and is currently under investigation for a variety of medicinal applications. Using new molecular and computational techniques, researchers have produced the first multi-gene evaluation of Psilocybe, which constitutes a major step in classifying and naming "magic" mushrooms.

Why tumors become drug-resistant Posted: 06 Aug 2013 10:28 AM PDT New findings could lead to drugs that fight back when tumors don't respond to treatment.

Switching between habitual and goal-directed actions: A 'two in one' system in our brain Posted: 06 Aug 2013 10:27 AM PDT Pressing the button of the lift at your work place, or apartment building is an automatic action -- a habit. You don't even really look at the different buttons; your hand is almost reaching out and pressing on its own. But what happens when you use the lift in a new place? In this case, your hand doesn't know the way, you have to locate the buttons, find the right one, and only then your hand can press a button. Here, pushing the button is a goal-directed action.

Emotional behavior of adults could be triggered in the womb Posted: 06 Aug 2013 10:27 AM PDT Adults could be at greater risk of becoming anxious and vulnerable to poor mental health if they were deprived of certain hormones while developing in the womb according to new research.

Large-area picosecond photodetectors push timing envelope Posted: 06 Aug 2013 10:26 AM PDT The Large Area Picosecond Photodetector (LAPPD) collaboration has developed big detectors that push the timing envelope, measuring the speed of particles with a precision down to trillionths of a second.

High-speed camera captures dancing droplets for scientific 'photo album' Posted: 06 Aug 2013 10:25 AM PDT The splash from rain hitting a windowpane or printer ink hitting paper all comes down to tiny droplets hitting a surface, and what each of those droplets does. Researchers have produced a high-resolution "photo album" of more than 30 shapes an oscillated drop of water can take. The results, a fundamental insight into how droplets behave, could have applications in everything from inkjet printing to microfluidics.

'Beetle in spider's clothing:' Quaint new species from Philippine Rainforest Creeks Posted: 06 Aug 2013 08:13 AM PDT The extremely long-legged Spider Water Beetles have received increasing attention in science and media lately. Biologists have now discovered two new species, emphasizing their usefulness as water quality bioindicators. Important steps towards their use as monitoring organisms in the Philippines were accomplished by providing DNA barcodes, identification keys and detailed descriptions of the relevant larval and adult stages.

Quantum communication controlled by resonance in 'artificial atoms' Posted: 06 Aug 2013 08:13 AM PDT Researchers have developed a method to control a quantum bit for electronic quantum communication in a series of quantum dots, which behave like artificial atoms in the solid state.

New technique allows closer study of how radiation damages materials Posted: 06 Aug 2013 08:13 AM PDT Scientists have developed a technique that provides real-time images of how magnesium changes at the atomic scale when exposed to radiation. The technique may give researchers new insights into how radiation weakens the integrity of radiation-tolerant materials, such as those used in space exploration and in nuclear energy technologies.

Soil carbon 'blowing in the wind' Posted: 06 Aug 2013 08:12 AM PDT Australian soils are losing about 1.6 million tons of carbon per year from wind erosion and dust storms affecting agricultural productivity, our economy and carbon accounts, according to new research.

New design may produce heartier, more effective salmonella-based vaccines Posted: 06 Aug 2013 08:12 AM PDT Through genetic manipulation, the species S. Typhi can be rendered harmless and used in vaccines in order to prevent, rather than cause illness. Scientists have described efforts to improve the effectiveness of a Recombinant Attenuated Salmonella Vaccine by modifying its ability to survive the hostile environment of the stomach.

Bringing light to a halt: Physicists freeze motion of light for a minute Posted: 06 Aug 2013 08:11 AM PDT Physicists have been able to stop something that has the greatest possible speed and that never really stops: light. A decade ago, physicists stopped it very for a short moment. In recent years, this extended towards stop times of a few seconds for simple light pulses in extremely cold gases and special crystals. But now the same researchers extended the possible duration and applications for freezing the motion of light considerably. The physicists stopped light for about one minute. They were also able to save images that were transferred by the light pulse into the crystal for a minute -- a million times longer than previously possible.

From harmless colonizers to virulent pathogens: Microbiologists identify what triggers disease Posted: 06 Aug 2013 08:10 AM PDT The bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae harmlessly colonizes the mucous linings of throats and noses in most people, only becoming virulent when they leave those comfortable surroundings. Now, researchers reveal how that happens.

Online predators not distinctively dangerous sex offenders Posted: 06 Aug 2013 08:10 AM PDT A new study challenges the view that online predators are a distinctly dangerous variety of sex offender, requiring special programs to protect youth.

Tidy desk or messy desk? Each has its benefits Posted: 06 Aug 2013 06:18 AM PDT Working at a clean and prim desk may promote healthy eating, generosity, and conventionality, according to new research. But, the research also shows that a messy desk may confer its own benefits, promoting creative thinking and stimulating new ideas.

Timber rattlesnakes indirectly benefit human health: Not-so-horrid top predator helps check Lyme disease Posted: 06 Aug 2013 06:18 AM PDT Biologists found timber rattlesnakes, which prey on mice and other small mammals, help check humans' exposure to the tick-borne Lyme disease.

Rapid diversification despite morphological stasis: A snail's pace in a snail's place? Posted: 06 Aug 2013 06:16 AM PDT Evolutionary biologists have found an unusual system that allows narrowing the gap in the study of evolutionary processes, working on living African freshwater snails and their fossil ancestors.

'Nursery nests' are better for survival of young black-and-white ruffed lemurs Posted: 06 Aug 2013 06:16 AM PDT Research shows it is easier for female ruffed lemurs to raise their young using a system of communal nesting and crèches. Young Malagasy black-and-white ruffed lemurs are more likely to survive when they are raised in communal crèches or "nursery nests" in which their mothers share the draining responsibility of feeding and caring for their offspring.

Anti-social tendencies of entrepreneurs demonstrated Posted: 06 Aug 2013 06:15 AM PDT Media reports about alleged anti-social and delinquent behavior of entrepreneurs are no rarity. Such reports direct the attention towards possibly 'hidden' anti-social tendencies in entrepreneurial types. Is it true then, that entrepreneurs are a particularly self-serving species with their own moral ideas and ethical principles? Does he really exist, the type of the entrepreneurial 'homo oeconomicus' who first of all is interested in his own benefit and profit and who abandons ethical and social principles? And if so: what makes him so?

Super sunscreen from fjord bacteria Posted: 06 Aug 2013 06:15 AM PDT A microorganism living in Trondheim Fjord will provide you with better protection against skin cancer and malignant melanomas.

Breakdown of fat 'on hold': Biochemists discover 'parking position' of fat-burning enzymes Posted: 06 Aug 2013 06:15 AM PDT Fat is a curse and a blessing at the same time. While we would rather not have any fat deposits on our body, especially in summer, accumulated fats in plants are desirable as they make them especially nutritious. Biologists have found that enzymes are "parked" under certain conditions and suspend the breakdown of fat.

Stunning image of nearby galaxy M31 Posted: 06 Aug 2013 06:15 AM PDT A stunning image of M31 has now been captured. M31, also known as the Andromeda Galaxy, is the spiral galaxy nearest to our own Milky Way Galaxy, 2.5 million light years from Earth. It is one of the brightest objects listed in the Messier catalog and has garnered the attention of observers since 964 A.D., when the Persian astronomer al-Sufi wrote about it.

Walking to work cuts risk of diabetes and high blood pressure Posted: 06 Aug 2013 06:15 AM PDT People who walk to work are around 40 per cent less likely to have diabetes as those who drive, according to a new study.

Personality may affect a new mother's decision to breastfeed Posted: 06 Aug 2013 06:15 AM PDT A new analysis has found that mothers who are more extroverted and less anxious are more likely to breastfeed and to continue to breastfeed than mothers who are introverted or anxious.

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