ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Ancient crater could hold clues about moon's mantle
• In surprise finding, blood clots absorb bacterial toxin
• First radiation measurements from the surface of Mars
• Scientists offer new insights on controlling nanoparticle stability
• New drug approach could lead to cures for wide range of diseases
• Gene sequencing project finds drugs with promise for treating childhood tumor
• Brief therapy eases symptoms of combat-related psychological trauma
• Engineering researchers report on nanoscale energy-efficient switching devices
• Home teams hold the advantage
• Neural prosthesis restores behavior after brain injury
• How light affects individual atoms
• How concussion can lead to depression years later
• Hidden details revealed in nearby starburst galaxy
• Archaeologists find oldest evidence of Late Stone Age settlement on Cyprus
• Genetic flaw in males triggers onset of liver cancer, diabetes
• Problem-child behavior could result from early puberty in girls
• New findings on women, pregnancy, epilepsy
• More light shed on possibility of life on Mars
• Mapping the demise of the dinosaurs
• Survey of supposed deep-sea chemical munitions dump off Southern California
• Math models enhance current therapies for coronary heart disease
• Hard rock life: Collecting census data on microbial denizens of hardened rocks
• Rivers and streams release more greenhouse gas than all lakes
• Surviving ovarian cancer: Scientists attack drug resistant cancer cells
• World's highest quantum efficiency UV photodetectors created
• Solar cells made thin, efficient and flexible
• Scientists scale terahertz peaks in nanotubes
• Morphing material has mighty potential: Composite may find use in bioscaffolds, optics, drugs
• New long-lived greenhouse gas discovered: Highest global-warming impact of any compound to date
• IRIS provides unprecedented images of sun
• System developed for assessing how effective species are at pollinating crops
• Solar cell degradation observed directly for the first time
• Recycled plastic proves effective in killing drug-resistant fungi
• How 'good cholesterol' stops inflammation
• Better preparedness against Tamiflu-resistant influenza viruses
• Leaf beetle larvae secrete defensive compound when feeding
• Peaceful bumblebee becomes invasive
• Ovarian cancer discovery deepens knowledge of survival outcomes
• A stopwatch for electron flashes: duration of energetic electron pulses measured using laser fields
• Harvesting electricity: Triboelectric generators capture wasted power
• Seizures and Epilepsy: A Significant Burden on Veterans
• 3-D printing used as a tool to explain theoretical physics
• Keep on exercising, researchers advise older breast cancer survivors
• No longer stumped: secrets of the skilled batsman
• New insights into immune system of gastrointestinal tract
• Polymers can behave like insulators, semiconductors and metals -- as well as semimetals
• Aging out of bounds: New demographic data show how diversely different species age and biologists cannot explain why
• Slimy tunicates may be worth billions
• Fish that work as sentinels of water quality
• Seizure unconsciousness similar to slow wave sleep
• Economic factors may affect getting guideline-recommended breast cancer treatment
• Potential biological factor contributing to racial disparities in prostate cancer
• Diabetes identified as risk factor for liver cancer across ethnic groups
• Biomarker linked to aggressive breast cancers, poor outcomes in African-Americans
• Peer-review science is taking off on Twitter, but who is Tweeting what and why?
• Pioneering path to electrical conductivity in 'Tinker Toy' material (MOF)
• Bed bugs can survive freezing temperatures, but cold can still kill them

Ancient crater could hold clues about moon's mantle Posted: 09 Dec 2013 03:11 PM PST Researchers have found evidence of diverse mineralogy in the moon's South Pole Aitken basin, a giant crater left by an impact 4 billion years ago. The findings could mean that some minerals dug up during that ancient impact remain intact within the basin. If that's true, then the basin could hold vital clues about the makeup of the moon's mantle.

In surprise finding, blood clots absorb bacterial toxin Posted: 09 Dec 2013 03:11 PM PST Blood clots play an unexpected role in protecting the body from the deadly effects of bacteria by absorbing bacterial toxins, researchers have found. The discovery may shed light on the pathology of septic shock.

First radiation measurements from the surface of Mars Posted: 09 Dec 2013 03:11 PM PST In the first 300 days of the Mars Science Laboratory's surface mission, the Curiosity rover cruised around the planet's Gale Crater, collecting soil samples and investigating rock structures while the onboard Radiation Assessment Detector made detailed measurements of the radiation environment on the surface of Mars. The radiation on Mars is much harsher than on Earth for two reasons: Mars lacks a global magnetic field and the Martian atmosphere is much thinner than Earth's, providing little shielding to the surface.

Scientists offer new insights on controlling nanoparticle stability Posted: 09 Dec 2013 03:11 PM PST Chemists studying the structure of ligand-stabilized gold nanoparticles have captured fundamental new insights about their stability.

New drug approach could lead to cures for wide range of diseases Posted: 09 Dec 2013 03:11 PM PST Scientists have demonstrated in mice what could be a revolutionary new technique to cure a wide range of human diseases -- from cystic fibrosis to cataracts to Alzheimer's disease -- that are caused by "misfolded" protein molecules.

Gene sequencing project finds drugs with promise for treating childhood tumor Posted: 09 Dec 2013 03:09 PM PST Drugs that enhance a process called oxidative stress were found to kill rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cells growing in the laboratory and possibly bolstered the effectiveness of chemotherapy against this aggressive tumor of muscle and other soft tissue.

Brief therapy eases symptoms of combat-related psychological trauma Posted: 09 Dec 2013 01:08 PM PST A new brief therapy eases symptoms of combat-related psychological trauma, a nursing study shows. The research suggests Accelerated Resolution Therapy may be an option for veterans who do not respond optimally to conventional therapies endorsed by the Department of Defense and VA.

Engineering researchers report on nanoscale energy-efficient switching devices Posted: 09 Dec 2013 01:08 PM PST Researchers have built nanoscale electromechanical switches and logic gates that operate more energy-efficiently than those now used by the billions in computers, tablets and smart phones. The switches are fast and light and have proved durable and heat tolerant, with no current leakage.

Home teams hold the advantage Posted: 09 Dec 2013 12:23 PM PST The home team holds the advantage over visitors – at least in the plant world. However, a mere handful of genetic adaptations could even the playing field. Researchers and their collaborators found that plant adaptation to different environments involves tradeoffs in performance.

Neural prosthesis restores behavior after brain injury Posted: 09 Dec 2013 12:22 PM PST Scientists have used a neural prosthesis to restore motor function in a rat model of brain injury. The technology is promising for TBI and stroke patients.

How light affects individual atoms Posted: 09 Dec 2013 11:33 AM PST Scientists are unraveling how atoms vibrate and change when hit with intense bursts of light.

How concussion can lead to depression years later Posted: 09 Dec 2013 11:32 AM PST A head injury can lead immune-system brain cells to go on "high alert" and overreact to later immune challenges by becoming excessively inflammatory – a condition linked with depressive complications, a new animal study suggests.

Hidden details revealed in nearby starburst galaxy Posted: 09 Dec 2013 11:32 AM PST Astronomers have captured never-before-seen details of the nearby starburst galaxy M82. These new data highlight streamers of material fleeing the disk of the galaxy as well as concentrations of dense molecular gas surrounding pockets of intense star formation.

Archaeologists find oldest evidence of Late Stone Age settlement on Cyprus Posted: 09 Dec 2013 11:25 AM PST Artifacts found at an archaeological site in Cyprus support a new theory that humans occupied the tiny Mediterranean island about 1,000 years earlier than previously believed -- a discovery that fills an important gap in Cypriot history.

Genetic flaw in males triggers onset of liver cancer, diabetes Posted: 09 Dec 2013 10:25 AM PST Researchers have uncovered a genetic deficiency in males that can trigger the development of one of the most common types of liver cancer and forms of diabetes.

Problem-child behavior could result from early puberty in girls Posted: 09 Dec 2013 10:24 AM PST A study shows early maturing in adolescent girls can increase aggressive and delinquent behavior.

New findings on women, pregnancy, epilepsy Posted: 09 Dec 2013 10:24 AM PST New research pertaining to the latest findings on the effects of epilepsy on both the mother and child explore folic acid use, the effect of surgery with intractable focal epilepsy, and antiepileptic drug exposure during breastfeeding.

More light shed on possibility of life on Mars Posted: 09 Dec 2013 10:24 AM PST Humankind is by nature inquisitive, especially about the prospect of life on other planets and whether or not we are alone. The aptly named Curiosity, a NASA Mars rover, has been scouring that planet's surface as a potential habitat for life, either past or present. Now there are some exciting new findings.

Mapping the demise of the dinosaurs Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:45 AM PST About 65 million years ago, an asteroid or comet crashed into a shallow sea near what is now the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, resulting in the extinction of many land plants and large animals, including most of the dinosaurs. The remnants from this devastating impact are exposed along the Campeche Escarpment -- an immense underwater cliff in the southern Gulf of Mexico, according to new research.

Survey of supposed deep-sea chemical munitions dump off Southern California Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:45 AM PST Researchers have described a preliminary seafloor survey of an area off the Southern California coast marked on charts as a chemical munitions site. The preliminary survey turned up trash and 55-gallon drums, but no chemical munitions.

Math models enhance current therapies for coronary heart disease Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:45 AM PST Coronary heart disease accounts for 18 percent of deaths in the United States every year. The disease results from a blockage of one or more arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle due to an inflammatory condition called artherosclerosis, leading to progressive buildup of fatty plaque near the surface of the arterial wall. A paper published proposes a mathematical model to improve currently-employed treatments of coronary heart disease.

Hard rock life: Collecting census data on microbial denizens of hardened rocks Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:41 AM PST Scientists are digging deep into the Earth's surface collecting census data on the microbial denizens of the hardened rocks. What they're finding is that, even miles deep and halfway across the globe, many of these communities are somehow quite similar.

Rivers and streams release more greenhouse gas than all lakes Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:41 AM PST Rivers and streams release carbon dioxide at a rate five times greater than the world's lakes and reservoirs combined, contrary to common belief.

Surviving ovarian cancer: Scientists attack drug resistant cancer cells Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:41 AM PST Scientists believe a targeted drug delivery system could make ovarian cancer more treatable for the most deadly gynecological cancer in the United States. In animal research, the cancer is attacked at the genetic level by using small, inhibiting RNA molecules that directly target and decrease the excess CD44 protein in cancer cells while simultaneously treating patients with the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel. This allows cells within the cancerous tumors to be successfully treated even at an advanced stage.

World's highest quantum efficiency UV photodetectors created Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:41 AM PST New technology could aid in the detection of missiles and chemical and biological threats.

Solar cells made thin, efficient and flexible Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:41 AM PST Scientists may be one step closer to tapping into the full potential of solar cells. The team found a way to create large sheets of nanotextured, silicon micro-cell arrays that hold the promise of making solar cells lightweight, more efficient, bendable and easy to mass produce.

Scientists scale terahertz peaks in nanotubes Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:41 AM PST Scientists find plasmons at the root of a terahertz peak seen in carbon nanotubes, but only in certain types. The discovery opens up the possibility of using nanotubes in terahertz-based optoelectronics.

Morphing material has mighty potential: Composite may find use in bioscaffolds, optics, drugs Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:41 AM PST The shape of a new composite material changes with the temperature in highly controllable ways. The material may be useful for biological, optical and pharmaceutical applications.

New long-lived greenhouse gas discovered: Highest global-warming impact of any compound to date Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:41 AM PST Scientists have discovered a novel chemical lurking in the atmosphere that appears to be a long-lived greenhouse gas. The chemical -- perfluorotributylamine -- is the most radiatively efficient chemical found to date, breaking all other chemical records for its potential to impact climate.

IRIS provides unprecedented images of sun Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:35 AM PST The region located between the surface of the sun and its atmosphere has been revealed as a more violent place than previously understood, according to images and data from NASA's newest solar observatory, the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS.

System developed for assessing how effective species are at pollinating crops Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:20 AM PST From tomatoes to pumpkins, most fruit and vegetable crops rely on pollination by bees and other insect species -- and the future of many of those species is uncertain. Now researchers are proposing a set of guidelines for assessing the performance of pollinator species in order to determine which species are most important and should be prioritized for protection.

Solar cell degradation observed directly for the first time Posted: 09 Dec 2013 07:53 AM PST Researchers have, for the first time, watched organic solar cells degrade in real time. This work could open new approaches to increasing the stability of this highly promising type of solar cell.

Recycled plastic proves effective in killing drug-resistant fungi Posted: 09 Dec 2013 07:52 AM PST Researchers have discovered a new, potentially life-saving application for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is widely used to make plastic bottles. They have successfully converted PET into a non-toxic biocompatible material with superior fungal killing properties.

How 'good cholesterol' stops inflammation Posted: 09 Dec 2013 07:52 AM PST High-density lipoprotein (HDL), known colloquially as "good cholesterol," protects against dangerous deposits in the arteries. An important function of HDL is its anti-inflammatory properties. An international research team has identified a central switch by which HDL controls the inflammatory response.

Better preparedness against Tamiflu-resistant influenza viruses Posted: 09 Dec 2013 07:52 AM PST Swedish researchers have found that residues of the influenza drug Tamiflu in our environment can make the influenza virus in birds resistant. This can have serious consequences in the event of an influenza pandemic. The research team will now continue their studies with a focus on alternative antiviral drugs.

Leaf beetle larvae secrete defensive compound when feeding Posted: 09 Dec 2013 07:52 AM PST Scientists have discovered the decisive biological stimulator for the accumulation of defensive substances in leaf beetle larvae used by the insects to fend off predators: ABC transport proteins, which are found in large quantities in glandular cells of the larvae.

Peaceful bumblebee becomes invasive Posted: 09 Dec 2013 07:52 AM PST European bumblebees were introduced into Chile as pollinators. However, these socially living insects have since spread across the southern part of South America -- very much to the detriment of native species.

Ovarian cancer discovery deepens knowledge of survival outcomes Posted: 09 Dec 2013 07:52 AM PST Researchers have identified a series of 10 genes that may signify a trifecta of benefits for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer and ultimately reflect improved survival outcomes. The research found that the 10-gene biomarker panel may identify the aggressiveness of a patient's disease, help predict survival outcomes and result in novel therapeutic strategies tailored to patients with the most adverse survival outcomes.

A stopwatch for electron flashes: duration of energetic electron pulses measured using laser fields Posted: 09 Dec 2013 07:50 AM PST A stopwatch made of light can determine the duration of extremely brief electron flashes. Scientists have, for the first time, succeeded in measuring the lengths of ultrashort bursts of highly energetic electrons using the electric fields of laser light. Such electron pulses, which behave like ultrashort matter waves, provide time-resolved recordings of processes taking place in molecules and atoms, enabling elementary particles to be "filmed" in four dimensions.

Harvesting electricity: Triboelectric generators capture wasted power Posted: 09 Dec 2013 07:49 AM PST Researchers are developing a family of generators that provide power for portable electronic devices and sensors by harnessing the triboelectric effect to capture mechanical energy that would otherwise be wasted.

Seizures and Epilepsy: A Significant Burden on Veterans Posted: 09 Dec 2013 07:49 AM PST Three new studies expose the high prevalence of epilepsy and other neurological disorders in US Veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. The research conducted from these studies indicate that veterans are at a particularly high risk for traumatic brain injury (TBI), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological non-epileptic seizures (PNES) and epileptic seizure diagnoses.

3-D printing used as a tool to explain theoretical physics Posted: 09 Dec 2013 06:25 AM PST Students may soon be able to reach out and touch some of the theoretical concepts they are taught in their physics classes thanks to a novel idea.

Keep on exercising, researchers advise older breast cancer survivors Posted: 09 Dec 2013 06:09 AM PST To build and maintain muscle strength, it is best for older breast cancer survivors to follow an ongoing exercise program of resistance and impact training. Research has found that the bone benefit from one year of such training could be maintained, even with less exercise, up to a year later, which could help prevent bone fractures in the long run.

No longer stumped: secrets of the skilled batsman Posted: 09 Dec 2013 06:09 AM PST Though the discovery might have come too late to help Australia win this week's Second Test match, a team of scientists from Down Under has revealed what techniques give skilled batsmen an edge over their less able teammates – and opponents.

New insights into immune system of gastrointestinal tract Posted: 09 Dec 2013 06:09 AM PST Lymphotoxin is a cytokine, or intercellular messenger, and plays an important role in the immunological balance of the gastrointestinal tract. It regulates the immune system of the digestive tract, which is made up of immune cells, immunoglobulins (antibodies) as well as intestinal bacteria. An international team of scientists has now discovered how this complex interaction functions and how lymphotoxin controls the production of immunoglobulins in the gut.

Polymers can behave like insulators, semiconductors and metals -- as well as semimetals Posted: 09 Dec 2013 06:07 AM PST Polymers can behave like insulators, semiconductors and metals – as well as semimetals.

Aging out of bounds: New demographic data show how diversely different species age and biologists cannot explain why Posted: 09 Dec 2013 06:07 AM PST Despite aging being one the hottest topic in the media recently, scientists have no coherent explanation for it. New demographic data on humans, animals and plants for the first time unveil such an extraordinary diversity of aging processes that no existing evolutionary theory can account for. Both life spans and mortalities vary from species to species. The fact that the probability of dying rises with age applies to humans, but is not principally true. This is shown by a catalog of 46 species with their respective mortality and fertility rates.

Slimy tunicates may be worth billions Posted: 09 Dec 2013 06:07 AM PST Tunicates that were placed in the sea six months ago have now been harvested. These ocean weeds can become a new aquaculture adventure.

Fish that work as sentinels of water quality Posted: 09 Dec 2013 05:56 AM PST Scientists have studied how to use fish farms to detect water quality in our rivers. There is a slight contamination that does not affect product quality and can trigger physiological reactions on fish.  The analysis of these changes can be a good biomarker for water quality.

Seizure unconsciousness similar to slow wave sleep Posted: 09 Dec 2013 05:42 AM PST Epilepsy patients with complex partial seizures have impaired consciousness during seizure episodes and typically have no memory of the event. However, the mechanisms of seizure unconsciousness are unclear. Research report that the mechanism underlying loss of awareness during complex partial seizures is likely the same as that involved in slow wave or deep sleep.

Economic factors may affect getting guideline-recommended breast cancer treatment Posted: 09 Dec 2013 05:41 AM PST Women with interruptions in health insurance coverage or with low income levels had a significantly increased likelihood of failing to receive breast cancer care that is in concordance with recommended treatment guidelines, according to researchers.

Potential biological factor contributing to racial disparities in prostate cancer Posted: 09 Dec 2013 05:41 AM PST Researchers have uncovered a potential biological factor that may contribute to disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality between African-American and non-Hispanic white men in the United States, according to researchers.

Diabetes identified as risk factor for liver cancer across ethnic groups Posted: 09 Dec 2013 05:41 AM PST Diabetes was associated with an increased risk for developing a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma, and this association was highest for Latinos, followed by Hawaiians, African-Americans, and Japanese-Americans, according to scientists.

Biomarker linked to aggressive breast cancers, poor outcomes in African-Americans Posted: 09 Dec 2013 05:41 AM PST Among African-American women with breast cancer, increased levels of the protein HSET were associated with worse breast cancer outcomes, according to results of new research.

Peer-review science is taking off on Twitter, but who is Tweeting what and why? Posted: 09 Dec 2013 05:41 AM PST The most tweeted peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2012, and the trends associated with their social media success, have now been identified.

Pioneering path to electrical conductivity in 'Tinker Toy' material (MOF) Posted: 09 Dec 2013 05:41 AM PST Researchers have devised a novel way to realize electrical conductivity in metal-organic framework (MOF) materials, a development that could have profound implications for the future of electronics, sensors, energy conversion and energy storage.

Bed bugs can survive freezing temperatures, but cold can still kill them Posted: 08 Dec 2013 10:36 AM PST A new study has found that bed bugs may be less susceptible to freezing temperatures than previously reported, but given adequate time and cold enough temperatures, freezing can still be an effective means of control.

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