ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Social or stinky? New study reveals how animal defenses evolve
• Europe's oldest footprints uncovered on English coast
• New application of physics tools used in biology
• Delist gray wolf from threatened and endangered list? Panel issues report on science
• Computer models help decode cells that sense light without seeing
• Protein to repair damaged brain tissue in MS identified
• New plant species a microcosm of biodiversity
• Finding could explain age-related decline in motor function
• Avian flu variant stalks Egypt
• Efficiently harnessing low frequency vibrations as infinite power source for miniature electronic devices
• Shadowing in Sensor Images: NASA study points to 'infrared-herring' in apparent Amazon green-up
• Cholesterol plays a critical role in hantavirus infection
• 'Steak-knife' teeth reveal ecology of oldest land predators
• Opening 'the X-files' helped researchers to understand why women and men differ in height
• Fish biomass in the ocean may be 10 times higher than estimated: Stock of mesopelagic fish changes from 1,000 to 10,000 million tons
• Click chemistry could provide total chemical DNA synthesis, study shows
• Large thermoelectric power from a combination of magnets and superconductors
• Dating refined for Atapuerca site where Homo antecessor appeared
• Protein structure: Peering into the transit pore
• First stroke guidelines for women created
• Toxin in seafood causes kidney damage in mice at levels considered safe for consumption
• Substance in photosynthesis was in play in ancient, methane-producing microbes
• Prickly protein helps stop staph bacteria
• United States lead in science and technology shrinking
• Nanoparticle pinpoints blood vessel plaques
• Brain: Loose coupling between calcium channels and sensors
• Regular aspirin use may reduce ovarian cancer risk: Study
• Credit card-sized device could analyze biopsy, help diagnose pancreatic cancer in minutes
• Toxin from brain cells triggers neuron loss in human ALS model
• Best weather forecasting models evaluated: Which one best predicted September 2013 Colorado floods?
• Source of chlamydia reinfections may be GI tract
• Excrement collected worldwide shows co-evolution of herbivores, their gut microbes
• Immune system 'overdrive' in pregnant women puts male offspring at special risk for adult brain disorders, mouse study suggests
• Decoding dengue, West Nile: Steps taken toward control of growing public health problems
• The ultimate decoy: Protein helps bacteria misdirect immune system
• Scientists use 'voting' and 'penalties' to overcome errors in quantum optimization
• Brain asymmetry improves processing of sensory information, study shows
• New disease gene discovery sheds light on cause of bone marrow failure
• Powerful bacterial immune response defined by new study
• How our immune system backfires and allows bacteria like Salmonella to grow
• Bundles of nerves, arteries provide wealth of new stem cell information
• Prostate development discovery could lead to new treatments
• Virtual-reality 'assisted' flying? Helping airline passengers experience comfort, space and altered self-perception

Social or stinky? New study reveals how animal defenses evolve Posted: 07 Feb 2014 12:13 PM PST Some animals are "eww" while others are "aww." Why do some animals use stinking secretions for defense, while others are social? In a new study, researchers found that noxious spraying was favored by animals that were nocturnal and mostly at risk from other animals, while sociality was favored by animals that were active during the day and potentially vulnerable to birds of prey.

Europe's oldest footprints uncovered on English coast Posted: 07 Feb 2014 10:45 AM PST The earliest human footprints outside of Africa have been uncovered, on the English coast, by a team of scientists. Their discovery offers researchers an insight into the migration of pre-historic people hundreds of thousands of years ago when Britain was linked by land to continental Europe.

New application of physics tools used in biology Posted: 07 Feb 2014 10:30 AM PST A physicist and his colleagues have found a new application for the tools and mathematics typically used in physics to help solve problems in biology.

Delist gray wolf from threatened and endangered list? Panel issues report on science Posted: 07 Feb 2014 10:30 AM PST As the Endangered Species Act celebrated its 40th anniversary at the end of 2013, its administrative agency, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, was mired in controversy. At issue was a proposal to remove the gray wolf (Canis lupus) from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and add the Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi).

Computer models help decode cells that sense light without seeing Posted: 07 Feb 2014 10:30 AM PST Researchers have found that the melanopsin pigment in the retina is potentially more sensitive to light than its more famous counterpart, rhodopsin, the pigment that allows for night vision. Scientists have leveraged supercomputers to study melanopsin, a retina pigment capable of sensing environmental light changes, informing the nervous system and synchronizing it with the day/night rhythm.

Protein to repair damaged brain tissue in MS identified Posted: 07 Feb 2014 08:41 AM PST Researchers have found a "potentially novel therapeutic target" to reduce the rate of deterioration and to promote growth of brain cells damaged by multiple sclerosis. Current therapies can be effective in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis but have little impact in promoting tissue growth.

New plant species a microcosm of biodiversity Posted: 07 Feb 2014 08:41 AM PST Biologists working in the Andes mountains of Ecuador have described a new plant species, a wild relative of black pepper, that is the sole home of an estimated 40-50 insect species, most of which are entirely dependent on this plant species for survival. This discovery is part of a larger project which focuses on the influence of plant-produced chemical compounds on biodiversity.

Finding could explain age-related decline in motor function Posted: 07 Feb 2014 06:40 AM PST A team of researchers has found a clue as to why muscles weaken with age. The team observed a change in homeostatic set points in neuromuscular junction synapses of aged fruit flies.

Avian flu variant stalks Egypt Posted: 07 Feb 2014 06:40 AM PST A new study tracks the spread of an H5N1 variant in Egypt -- a country recently identified as a major epicenter for the virus. In results researchers track the spread of H5N1 cases using a technique known as phylogeography.

Efficiently harnessing low frequency vibrations as infinite power source for miniature electronic devices Posted: 07 Feb 2014 06:40 AM PST Researchers have conceptualized a novel strategy to efficiently harness low frequency vibrations as infinite power source for miniature electronic devices.

Shadowing in Sensor Images: NASA study points to 'infrared-herring' in apparent Amazon green-up Posted: 07 Feb 2014 05:39 AM PST A new NASA study shows that the appearance of canopy greening is not caused by a biophysical change in Amazon forests, but instead by a combination of shadowing within the canopy and the way that satellite sensors observe the Amazon during the dry season.

Cholesterol plays a critical role in hantavirus infection Posted: 07 Feb 2014 05:39 AM PST Viruses mutate fast, which means they can quickly become resistant to anti-viral drugs. But viruses also depend on proteins and nutrients provided by their hosts, and therefore one strategy to identify new anti-viral drugs is to identify and target such host-cell components. Proteins involved in the regulation of cholesterol are essential for hantavirus entry into human host cells, new research shows.

'Steak-knife' teeth reveal ecology of oldest land predators Posted: 07 Feb 2014 05:39 AM PST The first top predators to walk on land were not afraid to bite off more than they could chew, a study has found. Researchers suggest that Dimetrodon, a carnivore that walked on land between 298 million and 272 million years ago, was the first terrestrial vertebrate to develop serrated ziphodont teeth.

Opening 'the X-files' helped researchers to understand why women and men differ in height Posted: 07 Feb 2014 05:38 AM PST Given its unique nature, the X chromosome has often been neglected when performing large-scale genetic studies. Because women have two copies of this chromosome and men only one, identifying genetic associations with X chromosomal genes can be particularly valuable in helping us to understand why some characteristics differ between sexes. Researchers have now identified novel X-chromosomal genetic variants that influence human height.

Fish biomass in the ocean may be 10 times higher than estimated: Stock of mesopelagic fish changes from 1,000 to 10,000 million tons Posted: 07 Feb 2014 05:38 AM PST With a stock estimated at 1,000 million tons so far, mesopelagic fish dominate the total biomass of fish in the ocean. However, scientists have found that their abundance could be at least 10 times higher. The results are based on the acoustic observations conducted during the circumnavigation of the Malaspina Expedition.

Click chemistry could provide total chemical DNA synthesis, study shows Posted: 07 Feb 2014 05:38 AM PST An interdisciplinary study has shown for the first time that 'click chemistry' can be used to assemble DNA that is functional in human cells, which paves the way for a purely chemical method for gene synthesis. Human cells can still read through strands of DNA correctly despite being stitched together using a linker not found in nature.

Large thermoelectric power from a combination of magnets and superconductors Posted: 07 Feb 2014 05:37 AM PST Thermoelectric devices can cool materials by passing currents, or convert temperature differences into electric power. However, especially metallic structures have a very poor thermoelectric performance, and therefore most thermoelectrics are made of semiconductors. Now researchers have shown how a proper combination of magnetic metals and superconductors could allow reaching very strong thermoelectric conversion efficiency.

Dating refined for Atapuerca site where Homo antecessor appeared Posted: 07 Feb 2014 05:37 AM PST One of the issues of the Atapuerca sites that generates the most scientific debate is the dating of the strata where the fossils are found. A study has clarified that the sediment of Gran Dolina, where the first remains of Homo antecessor were discovered in 1994, is 900,000 years old. The findings at the Lower Palaeolithic cave site of Gran Dolina, in the Sierra de Atapuerca mountain range (Burgos), have led to major advancements in our knowledge of human evolution and occupation of Eurasia.

Protein structure: Peering into the transit pore Posted: 07 Feb 2014 05:37 AM PST The lipid-rich membranes of cells are largely impermeable to proteins, but evolution has provided a way through -- in the form of transmembrane tunnels. A new study shows in unmatched detail what happens as proteins pass through such a pore.

First stroke guidelines for women created Posted: 07 Feb 2014 05:36 AM PST Despite strokes being on the decline in the U.S., more women are dying from them than are men. Now medical scientists have released guidance on prevention specifically for women.

Toxin in seafood causes kidney damage in mice at levels considered safe for consumption Posted: 07 Feb 2014 05:36 AM PST Domoic acid accumulates in seafood and is toxic to the brain. Research indicates that the toxin damages kidneys at concentrations that are 100 times lower than what causes neurological effects.

Substance in photosynthesis was in play in ancient, methane-producing microbes Posted: 07 Feb 2014 05:36 AM PST A process that turns on photosynthesis in plants likely developed on Earth in ancient microbes 2.5 billion years ago, long before oxygen became available, according to new research.

Prickly protein helps stop staph bacteria Posted: 06 Feb 2014 01:45 PM PST A genetic mechanism that controls the production of a large spike-like protein on the surface of Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria alters the ability of the bacteria to form clumps and to cause disease, according to a new study.

United States lead in science and technology shrinking Posted: 06 Feb 2014 01:45 PM PST The United States' predominance in science and technology eroded further during the last decade, as several Asian nations -- particularly China and South Korea -- rapidly increased their innovation capacities.

Nanoparticle pinpoints blood vessel plaques Posted: 06 Feb 2014 01:45 PM PST A team of researchers has developed a multifunctional nanoparticle that enables magnetic resonance imaging to pinpoint blood vessel plaques caused by atherosclerosis. The technology is a step toward creating a non-invasive method of identifying plaques vulnerable to rupture -- the cause of heart attack and stroke -- in time for treatment.

Brain: Loose coupling between calcium channels and sensors Posted: 06 Feb 2014 01:45 PM PST Neuroscientists have uncovered the existence of loose coupling between calcium channels and release sensors of exocytosis at a mature central synapse in the rodent brain. The researchers show that loose coupling provides a framework for presynaptic plasticity, a hallmark of synaptic signaling in hippocampal microcircuits.

Regular aspirin use may reduce ovarian cancer risk: Study Posted: 06 Feb 2014 01:44 PM PST Women who take aspirin daily may reduce their risk of ovarian cancer by 20 percent, according to a study. However, further research is needed before clinical recommendations can be made.

Credit card-sized device could analyze biopsy, help diagnose pancreatic cancer in minutes Posted: 06 Feb 2014 12:53 PM PST Scientists and engineers are developing a low-cost device that could help pathologists diagnose pancreatic cancer earlier and faster. The prototype can perform the basic steps for processing a biopsy, relying on fluid transport instead of human hands to process the tissue.

Toxin from brain cells triggers neuron loss in human ALS model Posted: 06 Feb 2014 12:52 PM PST In most cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, a toxin released by cells that normally nurture neurons in the brain and spinal cord can trigger loss of the nerve cells affected in the disease, researchers report.

Best weather forecasting models evaluated: Which one best predicted September 2013 Colorado floods? Posted: 06 Feb 2014 12:52 PM PST Researchers recently tested the ability of the world's most advanced weather forecasting models to predict the Sept. 9-16, 2013 extreme rainfall that caused severe flooding in Boulder, Colo.

Source of chlamydia reinfections may be GI tract Posted: 06 Feb 2014 11:21 AM PST The current standard of care treatment for chlamydia sometimes fails to eradicate the disease, according to a review, and the culprit may be in the gut.

Excrement collected worldwide shows co-evolution of herbivores, their gut microbes Posted: 06 Feb 2014 11:20 AM PST An extensive study on excrement and rumen fluids in plant-eating mammals from all over the whole world shows that the ciliates in their guts have evolved in parallel with them. This is the result of a five-year research project performed by evolution biologists, microbiologists and computer scientists.

Immune system 'overdrive' in pregnant women puts male offspring at special risk for adult brain disorders, mouse study suggests Posted: 06 Feb 2014 11:18 AM PST Researchers report that fetal mice — especially males — show signs of brain damage that lasts into their adulthood when they are exposed in the womb to a maternal immune system kicked into high gear by a serious infection or other malady. The findings suggest that some neurologic diseases in humans could be similarly rooted in prenatal exposure to inflammatory immune responses.

Decoding dengue, West Nile: Steps taken toward control of growing public health problems Posted: 06 Feb 2014 11:18 AM PST Dengue fever and West Nile fever are mosquito-borne diseases that affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide each year, but there is no vaccine against either of the related viruses.

The ultimate decoy: Protein helps bacteria misdirect immune system Posted: 06 Feb 2014 11:18 AM PST Scientists have discovered an unusual bacterial protein that attaches to virtually any antibody and prevents it from binding to its target.

Scientists use 'voting' and 'penalties' to overcome errors in quantum optimization Posted: 06 Feb 2014 10:39 AM PST Seeking a solution to decoherence -- the "noise" that prevents quantum processors from functioning properly -- scientists have developed a strategy of linking quantum bits together into voting blocks, a strategy that significantly boosts their accuracy. In a new study, the team found that their method results in at least a five-fold increase in the probability of reaching the correct answer when the processor solves the largest problems tested by the researcher, involving hundreds of qubits.

Brain asymmetry improves processing of sensory information, study shows Posted: 06 Feb 2014 10:36 AM PST Fish that have symmetric brains show defects in processing information about sights and smells, according to the results of a new study into how asymmetry in the brain affects processing of sensory information.

New disease gene discovery sheds light on cause of bone marrow failure Posted: 06 Feb 2014 10:36 AM PST New research has identified a novel genetic defect among patients with bone marrow failure, which could reveal its underlying cause.

Powerful bacterial immune response defined by new study Posted: 06 Feb 2014 10:36 AM PST A previously undefined T-cell immune response to rapid infections by bacteria like Salmonella and Chlamydia is described in a new article, helping pave the way for development of vaccines and therapeutics.

How our immune system backfires and allows bacteria like Salmonella to grow Posted: 06 Feb 2014 10:36 AM PST Researchers have found that our immune response can sometimes make us vulnerable to the very bacteria it is supposed to protect us from. A study reveals that the immune protein IL-22 enhances the growth of dangerous bacteria, like Salmonella, which causes food poisoning, and curbs the growth of healthy bacteria. The findings suggest that a supposedly protective immune response actually aids the growth of a gut pathogen by suppressing the growth of its closest competitors.

Bundles of nerves, arteries provide wealth of new stem cell information Posted: 06 Feb 2014 10:36 AM PST A new study not only uncovers new details on how bundles of nerves and arteries interact with stem cells but also showcases revolutionary techniques for following the cells as they function in living animals.

Prostate development discovery could lead to new treatments Posted: 06 Feb 2014 10:34 AM PST Scientists have discovered how the prostate gland develops for the first time, according to research published today. This information could possibly lead to new treatments.

Virtual-reality 'assisted' flying? Helping airline passengers experience comfort, space and altered self-perception Posted: 06 Feb 2014 08:13 AM PST Does this sound familiar? After a long check-in procedure you are finally sitting in your assigned seat on the aircraft. But the seat is too narrow, the foot-well is too tight, you have neighbors using both armrests, and the family with small children in the row in front increases the noise level considerably. If only there was a way to hide the environment or perhaps even create an illusion of comfort and relaxation! This illusion could soon become a reality, leading to a significant improvement of airline passenger comfort.

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