ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Scientists shine light on world's least-studied bat
• How poverty molds the brain
• New species of dolphin found in Australian waters
• NASA's Orion spacecraft comes to life
• A ghostly trio from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope
• Thawing permafrost: The speed of coastal erosion in Eastern Siberia has nearly doubled
• Plasmonic crystal alters to match light-frequency source: Device is like a photonic crystal, but smaller and tunable
• Coral reefs may be able to adapt to moderate climate change
• Scientists gain new insights into dolphin's evolutionary history and conversation
• Less toxic metabolites, more chemical product
• Male birth defect weakly linked to pesticide exposure
• Canadian discoveries pivotal to science of toxins, illness associated with E. coli
• Pregnant rats exposed to obesity hormone lose birth's protective effect on breast cancer
• Physicists provide new insights into coral skeleton formation
• Earthworms invade New England
• Paleontologist presents origin of life theory
• Surviving -- then thriving
• How a metamaterial might improve a depression treatment
• One in 10 older teens misuse painkillers, sedatives
• MRSA declines in veteran's hospitals nationwide
• Optometrists raise alert on potential risk of colored contact lenses
• Echolocation: Bats and whales behave in surprisingly similar ways
• Spinning atoms in light crystals
• New drug to help common bowel disease
• How fat could help solve part of the diabetes problem
• Scientists reduce behaviors associated with problem gambling in rats
• People seem more attractive in a group than they do apart
• Geneticists map human resistance to AIDS
• Eye tracking technology suggests people 'check out' women at first glance
• Test of manhood
• Study on neurodevelopmental effects of prenatal exposure to paracetamol
• A potential new class of fast-acting antidepressant
• High blood sugar makes Alzheimer’s plaque more toxic to the brain
• DIY, gardening can cut heart attack/stroke risk by 30 percent, prolong life for seniors
• Researchers detail possible resistance mechanisms of colorectal cancer to bevacizumab (avastin)
• 'Lost world' discovered on Australia’s Cape York Peninsula
• Common bioindicator resistant to insecticides
• New technology shows promise in taking the guesswork out of vaccine development
• VIP treatment for jet lag
• Five commonly performed tests, treatments in pulmonary medicine may not be necessary
• Model virus structure shows why there's no cure for common cold
• High rate of lower back injuries reported in young athletes
• Heart disease risk appears associated with breast cancer radiation

Scientists shine light on world's least-studied bat Posted: 29 Oct 2013 02:19 PM PDT The Mortlock Islands flying fox, a large, breadfruit-eating bat native to a few remote and tiny Pacific islands, has long been regarded as one of the world's least studied bats. Today researchers published a wealth of new information on this "forgotten" species, including the first detailed observations of wild populations.

How poverty molds the brain Posted: 29 Oct 2013 02:18 PM PDT Groundbreaking research nearly two decades ago linking a mother's educational background to her children's literacy and cognitive abilities stands out among decades of social science studies demonstrating the adverse effects of poverty. Now new research has taken that finding in a neuroscientific direction: linking poor processing of auditory information in the adolescent brain to a lower maternal educational background.

New species of dolphin found in Australian waters Posted: 29 Oct 2013 11:30 AM PDT A species of humpback dolphin previously unknown to science is swimming in the waters off northern Australia, according to biologists.

NASA's Orion spacecraft comes to life Posted: 29 Oct 2013 11:11 AM PDT NASA's first-ever deep space craft, Orion, has been powered on for the first time, marking a major milestone in the final year of preparations for flight.

A ghostly trio from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope Posted: 29 Oct 2013 11:07 AM PDT In the spirit of Halloween, scientists are releasing a trio of stellar ghosts caught in infrared light by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. All three spooky structures, called planetary nebulas, are in fact material ejected from dying stars. As death beckoned, the stars' wispy bits and pieces were blown into outer space.

Thawing permafrost: The speed of coastal erosion in Eastern Siberia has nearly doubled Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:38 AM PDT The high cliffs of Eastern Siberia -- which mainly consist of permafrost -- continue to erode at an ever quickening pace. This evaluation is based on data and aerial photographs of the coastal regions for the last 40 years.

Plasmonic crystal alters to match light-frequency source: Device is like a photonic crystal, but smaller and tunable Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:37 AM PDT A plasma-containing crystal, tunable by varying a voltage, could increase the bandwidth of high-speed communication networks and generally enhance high-speed electronics.

Coral reefs may be able to adapt to moderate climate change Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:37 AM PDT Coral reefs may be able to adapt to moderate climate warming, improving their chance of surviving through the end of this century, if there are large reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, according to a new study. Results further suggest corals have already adapted to part of the warming that has occurred.

Scientists gain new insights into dolphin's evolutionary history and conversation Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:37 AM PDT Researchers report their original genomic research on Baiji, also known as Yangtze River dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer). The study gives new insight into the genetic and evolutionary adaptations of the dolphin, and provides valuable resources for the conservation of mammals and cetaceans in particular.

Less toxic metabolites, more chemical product Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:35 AM PDT By preventing the build-up of toxic metabolites in engineered microbes, a dynamic regulatory system can help boost production of an advanced biofuel, a therapeutic drug, or other valuable chemical products. The system has already been used to double the production in E. coli of amorphadiene, a precursor to the premier antimalarial drug artemisinin.

Male birth defect weakly linked to pesticide exposure Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:35 AM PDT A study of several hundred chemicals used in commercial pesticides has found only weak evidence that any of them are associated with a common birth defect in male infants.

Canadian discoveries pivotal to science of toxins, illness associated with E. coli Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:35 AM PDT Many Canadian scientists and clinicians were unsung heroes during the early years (1977–1983) of research unfolding around verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC). In an article published today, a clinician and medical microbiologist documents the history of this area of study, focusing on the key discoveries and major contributions made by Canadians to the science of what many people refer to as "hamburger disease."

Pregnant rats exposed to obesity hormone lose birth's protective effect on breast cancer Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:35 AM PDT Like humans, young rats that give birth have a reduced risk of breast cancer later in life. But a new study shows that this protective effect in animals is negated if they're exposed to an obesity-linked hormone during pregnancy.

Physicists provide new insights into coral skeleton formation Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:34 AM PDT Scientists have shed important new light on coral skeleton formation. Their investigations, carried out at the nanoscale, provide valuable new information for scientists and environmentalists working to protect and conserve coral from the threats of acidification and rising water temperatures. As corals grow, they produce limestone -- calcium carbonate -- skeletons which build up over time into vast reefs. The skeleton's role is to help the living biofilm to move towards the light and nutrients.

Earthworms invade New England Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:31 AM PDT At least 16 species of earthworms are now found in Vermont and elsewhere in New England. All are exotic and many are invasive. As they spread, they devour organic matter, disrupting forests and releasing carbon dioxide. But they also store carbon deep in the soil. So, do the worms, on balance, slow or accelerate climate change? Vermont researchers are on the case.

Paleontologist presents origin of life theory Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:31 AM PDT Meteorite bombardment left large craters that contained water and chemical building blocks for life, which ultimately led to the first organisms, according to one origin of life theory.

Surviving -- then thriving Posted: 29 Oct 2013 08:13 AM PDT Modern medicine usually considers trauma -- both the physical and the psychological kinds -- as unequivocally damaging. Now researchers are lending support to a more philosophical view of suffering, finding that trauma, however terrible, may have distinct psychological benefits.

How a metamaterial might improve a depression treatment Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:44 AM PDT A brain stimulation technique that is used to treat tough cases of depression could be considerably improved with a new headpiece, experts say.

One in 10 older teens misuse painkillers, sedatives Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:44 AM PDT With prescription drug abuse at epidemic levels nationwide, and overdoses killing more people than auto accidents in many states, a new study provides striking new data about the misuse of potent prescription painkillers and sedatives by teens and young adults. In all, 10.4 percent of the teens and young adults treated in the emergency room for any reason admitted to misusing a prescription painkiller or sedative at least once in the last year.

MRSA declines in veteran's hospitals nationwide Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:44 AM PDT Five years after implementing a national initiative to reduce MRSA rates in Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, cases have continued to decline, according to a study.

Optometrists raise alert on potential risk of colored contact lenses Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:43 AM PDT Researchers have recently conducted a study on 15 brands of colored contact lenses available from various sources. Results showed that most of these cosmetic contact lenses have surface colored pigments which can easily come off when using a standardized lab-based rub-off test.

Echolocation: Bats and whales behave in surprisingly similar ways Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:16 AM PDT Sperm whales weigh up to 50 tons, and the smallest bat barely reaches a gram. Nevertheless, the two species share the same success story: They both have developed the ability to use echolocation -- a biological sonar -- for hunting. Now researchers show that the biosonar of toothed whales and bats share surprisingly many similarities -- even though they live in very different environments and vary extremely in size.

Spinning atoms in light crystals Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:15 AM PDT After more than 40 years of intense research, experimental physicists still seek to explore the rich behavior of electrons confined to a two-dimensional crystalline structure exposed to large magnetic fields. Now scientists have developed a new experimental method to simulate these systems using a crystal made of neutral atoms and laser light. In such artificial quantum matter, the atoms could be exposed to a uniform effective magnetic field several thousand times stronger than in typical condensed matter systems.

New drug to help common bowel disease Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:20 AM PDT An international team has identified the mechanism of pain relief of a new drug for treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation, based on nonclinical studies, and quantified its effectiveness in pain relief in human trials.

How fat could help solve part of the diabetes problem Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:20 AM PDT The pancreas is a large organ that wraps around our gut, and produces the exact amount of insulin our bodies need when we eat -- except when we start to develop diabetes, and insulin production slows down. Scientists describe how a fat recycling system within pancreatic "beta cells" determines the amount of insulin they secrete, and so may provide a target for future diabetes therapies.

Scientists reduce behaviors associated with problem gambling in rats Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:20 AM PDT With the help of a rat casino, researchers have successfully reduced behaviors in rats that are commonly associated with compulsive gambling.

People seem more attractive in a group than they do apart Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:20 AM PDT People tend to be rated as more attractive when they're part of a group than when they're alone, according to new research. This phenomenon -- first dubbed the "cheerleader effect" by ladykiller Barney Stinson on the popular TV show "How I Met Your Mother" -- suggests that having a few friends around might be one way to boost perceived attractiveness.

Geneticists map human resistance to AIDS Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:20 AM PDT The key to future HIV treatment could be hidden right in our own genes. Everyone who becomes infected deploys defense strategies, and some even manage to hold the virus at bay without any therapy at all. Scientists retraced the entire chain of events in these battles, from the genome of the virus to the genome of the victim, and have published their results.

Eye tracking technology suggests people 'check out' women at first glance Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:10 AM PDT Eye tracking technology has reconfirmed what women have known all along: that people look at their sexual body parts more and faces less when evaluating their appearance. A new study found that especially women with typical hour glass figures or larger breasts, narrower waists, and bigger hips frequently prompted such gazes.

Test of manhood Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:10 AM PDT The implications of prostate cancer get men thinking about what it means to be a man, according to a Norwegian doctoral thesis.

Study on neurodevelopmental effects of prenatal exposure to paracetamol Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:05 AM PDT Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is the most commonly used medicine in pregnancy, yet there are very few studies that have investigated the possible long-term consequences for the child. A new study suggests that long-term use of paracetamol during pregnancy may increase the risk of adverse effects on child development.

A potential new class of fast-acting antidepressant Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:03 AM PDT More than 1 in 10 Americans take antidepressants, but these medications can take weeks — and for some patients, months — before they begin to alleviate symptoms. Now, scientists have discovered that selectively blocking a serotonin receptor subtype induces fast-acting antidepressant effects in mice, indicating a potential new class of therapeutics for depression.

High blood sugar makes Alzheimer’s plaque more toxic to the brain Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:03 AM PDT High blood-sugar levels, such as those linked with Type 2 diabetes, make beta amyloid protein associated with Alzheimer's disease dramatically more toxic to cells lining blood vessels in the brain, according to a new study.

DIY, gardening can cut heart attack/stroke risk by 30 percent, prolong life for seniors Posted: 28 Oct 2013 03:49 PM PDT A spot of DIY or gardening can cut the risk of a heart attack/stroke and prolong life by as much as 30 per cent among the 60+ age group, indicates research published.

Researchers detail possible resistance mechanisms of colorectal cancer to bevacizumab (avastin) Posted: 28 Oct 2013 03:48 PM PDT A study published shows that when colorectal cancer is targeted by the drug bevacizumab (Avastin), tumors may switch dependence from VEGF-A, which is targeted by the drug, to related growth factors in including VEGF-C, VEGF-D and placental growth factor. This change to new growth-factor dependence may allow colorectal cancer to push past bevacizumab's blockage of VEGF-A to continue to drive tumor growth.

'Lost world' discovered on Australia’s Cape York Peninsula Posted: 28 Oct 2013 01:36 PM PDT An expedition to Cape York Peninsula in north-east Australia has found three vertebrate species new to science and isolated for millions of years -- a bizarre looking leaf-tail gecko, a golden-colored skink and a boulder-dwelling frog.

Common bioindicator resistant to insecticides Posted: 28 Oct 2013 01:29 PM PDT Scientists have found a common bioindicator, Hyalella azteca, used to test the toxicity of water or sediment was resistant to insecticides used in agricultural areas of central California. The study is the first to demonstrate that the indicator species may adapt to polluted conditions of a habitat and become an entirely unreliable source of information about ecosystem health.

New technology shows promise in taking the guesswork out of vaccine development Posted: 28 Oct 2013 01:28 PM PDT Scientists have developed a comprehensive, microchip-based technology, called immunosignature diagnosis, which can rapidly and comprehensively measure an individual's vaccine response, promising to take much of the initial guesswork out of predicting effective vaccines.

VIP treatment for jet lag Posted: 28 Oct 2013 01:28 PM PDT A small molecule called VIP, known to synchronize time-keeping neurons in the brain's biological clock, has the startling effect of desynchronizing them at higher dosages, says a research team. Neurons knocked for a loop by a burst of VIP are better able to re-synchronize to abrupt shifts in the light-dark cycle like those that make jet lag or shift work so miserable.

Five commonly performed tests, treatments in pulmonary medicine may not be necessary Posted: 28 Oct 2013 01:24 PM PDT A list released today identified five commonly performed tests and procedures in pulmonary medicine that may not always be necessary. The list, part of the ABIM Foundation's Choosing Wisely® campaign, was produced by a collaborative task force.

Model virus structure shows why there's no cure for common cold Posted: 28 Oct 2013 01:23 PM PDT In a pair of landmark studies that exploit the genetic sequencing of the "missing link" cold virus, rhinovirus C, scientists have constructed a three-dimensional model of the pathogen that shows why there is no cure yet for the common cold.

High rate of lower back injuries reported in young athletes Posted: 28 Oct 2013 01:20 PM PDT Lower back injuries are the third most common injuries suffered in athletes under age 18. Many injuries are severe enough to sideline young athletes for one-to-six months, and put them at future risk for long-term back problems, a study has found.

Heart disease risk appears associated with breast cancer radiation Posted: 28 Oct 2013 01:20 PM PDT Among patients with early stages of breast cancer, those whose hearts were more directly irradiated with radiation treatments on the left side in a facing-up position had higher risk of heart disease, according to research.

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