ScienceDaily: Top News

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• World ranking tracks evoluntionary distinctness of birds
• 'Dinosaurs of the turtle world' at risk in Southeast U.S. rivers
• Yeast provides genetic clues on drug response
• Plants evolve ways to control embryo growth
• How the brain pays attention: Identifying regions of the brain dealing with object-based, spacial attention
• Fruit flies, fighter jets use similar nimble tactics when under attack
• Finding the target: How timing is critical in establishing an olfactory wiring map
• Uncovering a new angle on mental distance: Feeling closer leads to poor judgement of space
• Common sense health for young adult cancer survivors
• Gigabit wireless communications
• Thermoelectric generator on glass fabric for wearable electronic devices
• Development of programmable quantum computers
• Virus structure inspires novel understanding of onion-like carbon nanoparticles
• Rare fossilized embryos more than 500 million years old found
• Health of ecosystems on US golf courses better than predicted
• Enzyme 'wrench' could be key to stronger, more effective antibiotics
• Nature: Poor mimics can succeed as long as they mimic the right trait
• Mechanism that regulates lung function in disease Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome found
• Ancient 'spider' images reveal eye-opening secrets
• Researchers search for earliest roots of psychiatric disorders
• Iconic boreal bird species declining in the Adirondacks
• How mechanical forces affect t-cell recognition, signaling
• Sunlight generates hydrogen in new porous silicon
• Microgravity research helping to understand the fungi within
• Planaria deploy an ancient gene expression program in the course of organ regeneration
• Should you trust your financial advisor? Pseudo-mathematics and financial charlatanism
• Creating new bone tissue generation technique
• Reef fish arrived in two waves, before and after mass extinction 66 million years ago
• Fruit flies have latent bioluminescence, study shows
• Brainy courage of the rainbowfish
• Identified epigenetic factors associated with increased risk of developing cancer
• Antidepressants and breastfeeding can mix, study suggests
• There's no faking it: Your sexual partner knows if you're really satisfied
• Head injuries can make children loners
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder May Reflect a Propensity for Bad Habits
• Camels emit less methane than cows or sheep
• How the kissing disease virus hijacks human cells
• The motion of the medium matters for self-assembling particles
• Emerging research suggests a new paradigm for 'unconventional superconductors'
• Growth factor receptors may prompt metastatic spread of lung cancer
• Dangerous ways computer worms are spreading among smartphones
• Parasitic butterfly larvae mimic queen ant to avoid detection
• Patients over 65 have more complications after colorectal cancer surgery
• Water users can reduce risk of spreading invasive species
• Physical activity associated with lower rates of hospital readmission in patients with COPD
• Rare leafcutter bee fossils reveal Ice Age environment at the La Brea Tar Pits
• Extinct carnivorous marsupial may have hunted prey larger than itself
• Consuming high-fat diet associated with increased risk of certain types of breast cancer
• Conventional theories about Titanic disaster put on ice: Risk of icebergs higher now than in 1912
• Skull malformations in lions: Keeping up the pressure
• Breastfeeding and infant sleep: Are babies who wake to breastfeed at night trying to delay the birth of a sibling?
• Scientists firm up origin of cold-adapted yeasts that make cold beer
• One kind of supersymmetry shown to emerge naturally: Unique phenomenon in condensed matter system
• Mars: Gusev Crater once held a lake after all, scientist says
• Scalable, universal quantum computer? Quantum information processed with system comprising optical photon and trapped atom

World ranking tracks evoluntionary distinctness of birds Posted: 10 Apr 2014 11:19 AM PDT The world's first ranking of evolutionary distinct birds under threat of extinction has been published by a team of international scientists. These birds include a cave-dwelling bird that is so oily it can be used as a lamp and a bird that has claws on its wings and a stomach like a cow. The new rankings will be used in a major conservation initiative called the Edge of Existence program at the London Zoo. The zoo has already identified several species like the huge monkey-eating Philippine eagle that are at once distinct, endangered, and suffer from lack of attention.

'Dinosaurs of the turtle world' at risk in Southeast U.S. rivers Posted: 10 Apr 2014 11:19 AM PDT Conservation of coastal rivers of the northern Gulf of Mexico is vital to the survival of the alligator snapping turtle, including two recently discovered species, scientists say. A new study shows the alligator snapping turtle, the largest freshwater turtle in the Western Hemisphere and previously believed to be one species, is actually three separate species.

Yeast provides genetic clues on drug response Posted: 10 Apr 2014 11:19 AM PDT Why do people respond differently to the same drug? For the first time, researchers have untangled genetic and environmental factors related to drug reactions, bringing us a step closer to predicting how a drug will affect us. Researchers exposed 6,000 strains of yeast to 3,000 drugs and found that the yeast cells have about 50 main ways in which they react to any drug.

Plants evolve ways to control embryo growth Posted: 10 Apr 2014 11:19 AM PDT A new generation of high yield plants could be created following a fundamental change in our understanding of how plants develop, experts say. The research provides the first evidence that plants have evolved ways to control embryo growth and development by emitting information from surrounding cells.

How the brain pays attention: Identifying regions of the brain dealing with object-based, spacial attention Posted: 10 Apr 2014 11:19 AM PDT A brain circuit that's key to shifting our focus from one object to another has been identified by neuroscientists. The new findings suggest that there are two types of attention have similar mechanisms involving related brain regions: object-based attention, and spatial attention. In both cases, the prefrontal cortex -- the control center for most cognitive functions -- appears to take charge of the brain's attention and control relevant parts of the visual cortex, which receives sensory input.

Fruit flies, fighter jets use similar nimble tactics when under attack Posted: 10 Apr 2014 11:17 AM PDT When startled by predators, tiny fruit flies respond like fighter jets, employing screaming-fast banked turns to evade attacks. In the midst of a banked turn, the flies can roll on their sides 90 degrees or more, almost flying upside down at times. Researchers used an array of high-speed video cameras operating at 7,500 frames a second to capture the wing and body motion of flies after they encountered a looming image of an approaching predator.

Finding the target: How timing is critical in establishing an olfactory wiring map Posted: 10 Apr 2014 11:17 AM PDT A developmental window during which olfactory neurons of newborn mice can form a proper wiring map has been identified by researchers. They show that if incorrect neuronal connections are maintained after this period, renewing cells will also be mis-wired. The human nose expresses nearly 400 odorant receptors, which allow us to distinguish a large number of scents. In mice the number of odor receptors is closer to 1000. Each olfactory neuron displays only a single type of receptor and all neurons with the same receptors are connected to the same spot, a glomerulus, in the brain.

Uncovering a new angle on mental distance: Feeling closer leads to poor judgement of space Posted: 10 Apr 2014 10:15 AM PDT Why does the second hour of a journey seem shorter than the first? Research suggests that the answer lies in how we're physically oriented in space. Research has demonstrated that a person's orientation -- the direction they are headed -- changed how they thought of an object or event. "Feeling close to or distant from something impacts our behavior and judgment," says the lead author. "We feel more socially connected, more emotionally engaged, and more attuned to the present when something is perceived as close."

Common sense health for young adult cancer survivors Posted: 10 Apr 2014 10:15 AM PDT Many factors influence the life expectancy of childhood cancer survivors: not getting enough exercise, being underweight, and being worried about their future health or their health insurance. The study found that, on average, childhood cancer survivors passed away before they were 40 years old.

Gigabit wireless communications Posted: 10 Apr 2014 10:15 AM PDT The millimeter-wave band (58-63GHz) is seen as a perfect candidate for short-range gigabit wireless communications. These networks are envisaged to satisfy the demands of future data-rate hungry applications but few studies have analysed the potential of frequency reuse at 60GHz.

Thermoelectric generator on glass fabric for wearable electronic devices Posted: 10 Apr 2014 10:14 AM PDT Wearable computers or devices have been hailed as the next generation of mobile electronic gadgets, from smart watches to smart glasses to smart pacemakers. For electronics to be worn by a user, they must be light, flexible, and equipped with a power source, which could be a portable, long-lasting battery or no battery at all but a generator. How to supply power in a stable and reliable manner is one of the most critical issues to commercialize wearable devices. Scientists have now proposed a solution to this problem by developing a glass fabric-based thermoelectric (TE) generator that is extremely light and flexible and produces electricity from the heat of the human body.

Development of programmable quantum computers Posted: 10 Apr 2014 10:12 AM PDT Researchers have performed a proof-of-concept experiment that will aid the future development of programmable quantum computers.

Virus structure inspires novel understanding of onion-like carbon nanoparticles Posted: 10 Apr 2014 09:22 AM PDT Symmetry is ubiquitous in the natural world. It occurs in gemstones and snowflakes and even in biology, an area typically associated with complexity and diversity. There are striking examples: the shapes of virus particles, such as those causing the common cold, are highly symmetrical and look like tiny footballs.

Rare fossilized embryos more than 500 million years old found Posted: 10 Apr 2014 09:22 AM PDT The Cambrian Period is a time when most phyla of marine invertebrates first appeared. Also dubbed the 'Cambrian explosion,' fossilized records from this time provide glimpses into evolutionary biology. Most fossils show the organisms' skeletal structure, which may give researchers accurate pictures of these prehistoric organisms. Now, researchers have found rare, fossilized embryos they believe were undiscovered previously. Their methods of study may help with future interpretation of evolutionary history.

Health of ecosystems on US golf courses better than predicted Posted: 10 Apr 2014 09:22 AM PDT Currently, there are more than 18,300 golf courses in the US covering over 2.7 million acres. The ecological impacts of golf courses are not always straightforward with popular opinion suggesting that environmentally, golf courses have a negative impact on ecosystems. Now, researchers have determined that golf courses can offer a viable habitat for stream salamanders, and enhanced management practices may be beneficial to ecosystems within golf courses.

Enzyme 'wrench' could be key to stronger, more effective antibiotics Posted: 10 Apr 2014 09:21 AM PDT Builders and factory workers know that getting a job done right requires precision and specialized tools. The same is true when you're building antibiotic compounds at the molecular level. New findings may turn an enzyme that acts as a specialized 'wrench' in antibiotic assembly into a set of wrenches that will allow for greater customization.

Nature: Poor mimics can succeed as long as they mimic the right trait Posted: 10 Apr 2014 09:21 AM PDT There are both perfect and imperfect mimics in nature. An imperfect mimic might have a different body shape, size or color pattern arrangement compared to the species it mimics. Researchers have long been puzzled by the way poor mimicry can still be effective in fooling predators not to attack. Researchers now present a novel solution to the question of imperfect mimicry.

Mechanism that regulates lung function in disease Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome found Posted: 10 Apr 2014 09:21 AM PDT The tumor suppressor gene folliculin is essential to normal lung function in patients with the rare disease Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, skin and kidneys, researchers have found. Folliculin's absence or mutated state has a cascading effect that leads to deteriorated lung integrity and an impairment of lung function, they report.

Ancient 'spider' images reveal eye-opening secrets Posted: 10 Apr 2014 09:21 AM PDT Stunning images of a 305-million-year-old harvestman fossil reveal ancestors of the modern-day arachnids had two sets of eyes rather than one. The researchers say their findings add significant detail to the evolutionary story of this diverse and highly successful group of arthropods, which are found on every continent except Antarctica.

Researchers search for earliest roots of psychiatric disorders Posted: 10 Apr 2014 09:21 AM PDT A single molecular mechanism in the developing brain has been identified that sheds light on how cells may go awry when exposed to a variety of different environmental insults. The findings suggest that different types of stressors prenatally activate a single molecular trigger in brain cells that may make exposed individuals susceptible to late-onset neuropsychiatric disorders.

Iconic boreal bird species declining in the Adirondacks Posted: 10 Apr 2014 09:20 AM PDT Several iconic Adirondack birds are in trouble, with declines driven by the size of their wetland habitats, how connected these wetlands are to one another, and how near they are to human infrastructure, research finds. A new report presents an evaluation of the potential influence of climate change and habitat alteration on species occurrence patterns over time.

How mechanical forces affect t-cell recognition, signaling Posted: 10 Apr 2014 09:19 AM PDT A new understanding of the T-cell recognition process has been revealed by describing how T-cell receptors use mechanical contact – the forces involved in their binding to antigens – to make decisions about whether or not the cells they encounter are threats. "This is the first systematic study of how T-cell recognition is affected by mechanical force, and it shows that forces play an important role in the functions of T-cells," said a co-author. "We think that mechanical force plays a role in almost every step of T-cell biology."

Sunlight generates hydrogen in new porous silicon Posted: 10 Apr 2014 08:12 AM PDT Porous silicon manufactured in a bottom up procedure using solar energy can be used to generate hydrogen from water, according to mechanical engineers who also see applications for batteries, biosensors and optical electronics as outlets for this new material.

Microgravity research helping to understand the fungi within Posted: 10 Apr 2014 07:39 AM PDT You may not recognize it by name, but if you have ever had a child with a diaper rash, that child was likely a host to Candida albicans (C. albicans). This unwelcome "guest" can be hard to control, as it can potentially lead to serious illness in humans with weakened immune systems. During an investigation dubbed "Microbe," using the unique microgravity environment aboard space shuttle Atlantis on an International Space Station mission, researchers gained a better understanding of these prevalent fungi. Their tendency to become more aggressive in microgravity helps scientists see what mechanisms control the behavior of these types of organisms, with the potential to develop ways to influence their behavior both in space and on Earth.

Planaria deploy an ancient gene expression program in the course of organ regeneration Posted: 10 Apr 2014 07:30 AM PDT Researchers report the identification of genes that worms use to rebuild an amputated pharynx.

Should you trust your financial advisor? Pseudo-mathematics and financial charlatanism Posted: 10 Apr 2014 07:30 AM PDT Your financial advisor calls you up to suggest a new investment scheme. Drawing on 20 years of data, he has set his computer to work on this question: If you had invested according to this scheme in the past, which portfolio would have been the best? His computer assembled thousands of such simulated portfolios and calculated for each one an industry-standard measure of return on risk. Out of this gargantuan calculation, your advisor has chosen the optimal portfolio. After briefly reminding you of the oft-repeated slogan that "past performance is not an indicator of future results," the advisor enthusiastically recommends the portfolio, noting that it is based on sound mathematical methods. Should you invest?

Creating new bone tissue generation technique Posted: 10 Apr 2014 06:56 AM PDT Researchers are investigating whether bone grown from the body's own stem cells can replace traditional types of bone grafting. The process, which has been successful in previous lab experiments, uses biodegradable polymer scaffolding material and bone morphogenetic protein, or BMP, which was inserted into the abdomen of mice to attract stem cells that in turn produced bone. BMPs are proteins known to promote bone growth.

Reef fish arrived in two waves, before and after mass extinction 66 million years ago Posted: 10 Apr 2014 06:56 AM PDT The world's reefs are hotbeds of biological diversity, including over 4,500 species of fish. A new study shows that the ancestors of these fish colonized reefs in two distinct waves, before and after the mass extinction event about 66 million years ago that wiped out the dinosaurs.

Fruit flies have latent bioluminescence, study shows Posted: 10 Apr 2014 06:56 AM PDT A synthetic luciferin developed by scientists shows that fruit flies are secretly harboring the biochemistry needed to glow in the dark -- otherwise known as bioluminescence. This discovery expands the scope of bioluminescence imaging for research, and adds new tools for the noninvasive studying of ongoing biological processes.

Brainy courage of the rainbowfish Posted: 10 Apr 2014 06:55 AM PDT The boldest black-lined rainbowfish are those that are born in the wild. Also more fearless are those that analyze information with both sides of their brains. The preference to analyze and react to information with either the left or right hemisphere of the brain is called cerebral lateralization, and is widespread among vertebrates. Lateralization is seen in the preference of humans or parrots to use one hand or claw over the other or to always turn to the same side when moving around objects.

Identified epigenetic factors associated with increased risk of developing cancer Posted: 10 Apr 2014 06:55 AM PDT One in four human tumor presents genetic polymorphisms associated with increased risk of cancer that cause an epigenetic change that modifies the expression of neighboring genes. "This work represents a Herculean effort to analyze by bioinformatics a lot of biological information. To be exact, we have studied a million genetic changes in relation to half a million epigenetic changes in 3,500 tumors representing the thirteen most common cancers, including breast, lung and colon," says the lead researcher.

Antidepressants and breastfeeding can mix, study suggests Posted: 10 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT Women on antidepressants are more successful at breastfeeding their babies if they keep taking the medication, a study has shown. Researchers say the health benefits of continued breastfeeding greatly outweigh any perceived risk to the baby from antidepressant medication. "This is a really important message because we know that breastfeeding has immense benefits for the child and the mum herself, including a degree of protection against post-natal depression," they note.

There's no faking it: Your sexual partner knows if you're really satisfied Posted: 10 Apr 2014 05:35 AM PDT There is no point faking it in bed because chances are your sexual partner will be able to tell. A study found that men and women are equally perceptive of their partners' levels of sexual satisfaction. The study identified sexual communication and ability to recognize emotions as important factors that predict accuracy in gauging one partner's sexual satisfaction.

Head injuries can make children loners Posted: 10 Apr 2014 05:35 AM PDT Kids three years after an initial head incident were found to have lingering injury in the brain's right frontal lobe, which is associated with lower social competence (participation in groups, number of friends, etc.), a new study finds. The study also suggests that therapy designed to improve working memory might 'treat' the social difficulties.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder May Reflect a Propensity for Bad Habits Posted: 10 Apr 2014 05:33 AM PDT Two new studies shed light on the propensity for habit formation in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These studies suggest that a tendency to develop habits, i.e., the compulsive component of the disorder, may be a core feature of the disorder rather than a consequence of irrational beliefs. In other words, instead of washing one's hands because of the belief that they are contaminated, some people may develop concerns about hand contamination as a consequence of a recurring urge to wash their hands.

Camels emit less methane than cows or sheep Posted: 10 Apr 2014 05:33 AM PDT When digesting ruminants exhale methane. Their contribution to this global greenhouse gas is considerable. So far the assumption had been that camels with similar digestion produce the same amount of the climate-damaging gas. However, researchers have now shown camels release less methane than ruminants.

How the kissing disease virus hijacks human cells Posted: 10 Apr 2014 05:33 AM PDT A component of the Epstein Barr (EBV) virus takes over our cells gene regulating machinery, allowing the virus to replicate itself, researchers have discovered. The EBV virus causes a variety of diseases such as Hodgkin's lymphoma and Burkitt's lymphoma, with the most prevalent disease being infectious mononucleosis commonly known as "kissing disease" because of its mode of transmission between humans. It turns out that the diseases begin with kiss of a molecular sort; a viral protein contacting the molecules that control our genes.

The motion of the medium matters for self-assembling particles Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:45 PM PDT Earlier work assumed that the liquid medium in which certain self-assembling particles float could be treated as a placid vacuum, but scientists have now shown that fluid dynamics play a crucial role in the kind and quality of the structures that can be made in this way.

Emerging research suggests a new paradigm for 'unconventional superconductors' Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:45 PM PDT Scientists have reported the first experimental observation of the quantum critical point in the extensively studied 'unconventional superconductor' TiSe2, finding that it does not reside as predicted within the superconducting dome of the phase diagram, but rather at a full GPa higher in pressure.

Growth factor receptors may prompt metastatic spread of lung cancer Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:45 PM PDT Two cell surface receptors might be responsible for the most common form of lung cancer spreading to other parts of the body, according to a study. The hepatocyte growth factor receptor and fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 are proteins associated with the potential spread of non-small cell lung cancer, this research shows.

Dangerous ways computer worms are spreading among smartphones Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:45 PM PDT Scientists have recently discovered that some of the most common activities among smartphone users -- scanning 2-D barcodes, finding free Wi-Fi access points, sending SMS messages, listening to MP3 music and watching MP4 videos -- can leave devices vulnerable to harmful 'computer worms.'

Parasitic butterfly larvae mimic queen ant to avoid detection Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:45 PM PDT Parasitic butterfly larvae may mimic ants' acoustic signals to aid in the infiltration of their host colonies. Ants aggressively defend their colonies and nests, so successfully that these locations make a perfect shelter for another similar species to live in. However, ants have evolved a complex set of signals that allow colony members to distinguish between residents and intruders.

Patients over 65 have more complications after colorectal cancer surgery Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:44 PM PDT Most colorectal cancer surgeries are performed on patients older than 65 years, and older patients have worse outcomes than younger patients, although the total number of colon cancer operations has decreased in the past decade, a study shows. The authors examined the trends and outcomes of colorectal cancer surgery in the elderly in an American nationwide sample of inpatients from 2001 through 2010.

Water users can reduce risk of spreading invasive species Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:44 PM PDT Foreign species that are devastating water ecosystems could be 'hitchhiking' around Britain on canoeists' and anglers' kit, according to a new study. Invaders like the killer shrimp, zebra mussel and American signal crayfish have already caused extensive environmental damage and millions of pounds of economic costs.

Physical activity associated with lower rates of hospital readmission in patients with COPD Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:44 PM PDT Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who participated in any level of moderate to vigorous physical activity had a lower risk of hospital readmission within 30 days compared to those who were inactive, according to a study. "The results of this study are groundbreaking because measures of physical activity were derived from routine clinical care, instead of lengthy physical activity surveys or activity devices in smaller research samples," said the study's lead author.

Rare leafcutter bee fossils reveal Ice Age environment at the La Brea Tar Pits Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:44 PM PDT The La Brea Tar Pits are celebrated for saber-toothed cats and mastodons. The site's insect collection is also of great significance. Recent examination of fossil leafcutter bee nest cells exemplifies how fossil insects reveal insights into the habitat and climate at the La Brea Tar Pits toward the last Ice Age.

Extinct carnivorous marsupial may have hunted prey larger than itself Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:44 PM PDT The reconstruction of an extinct meat-eating marsupial's skull, Nimbacinus dicksoni, suggests that it may have had the ability to hunt vertebrate prey exceeding its own body size.

Consuming high-fat diet associated with increased risk of certain types of breast cancer Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:44 PM PDT High total and saturated fat intake were associated with greater risk of estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer, and human epidermal growth factor 2 receptor-negative disease, according to a new study. The authors conclude, "a high-fat diet increases BC risk and, most conspicuously, that high saturated fat intake increases risk of receptor-positive disease, suggesting saturated fat involvement in the etiology of receptor-positive BC."

Conventional theories about Titanic disaster put on ice: Risk of icebergs higher now than in 1912 Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:43 PM PDT Scientists have dispelled a long-held theory that the Titanic was unlucky for sailing in a year with an exceptional number of icebergs and say the risk of icebergs is actually higher now. Previously it had been suggested that the seas which sank the famous cruise ship -- which set off on its maiden voyage 102 years ago today (10 April 2014) -- had an exceptional number of icebergs caused by lunar or solar effects. But academics have shown that 1912 was a significant ice year but not extreme.

Skull malformations in lions: Keeping up the pressure Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:43 PM PDT Scientists have examined the incidence of skull malformations in lions, a problem known to be responsible for causing neurological diseases and increased mortality. Their results suggest that the occurrence is a consequence of a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

Breastfeeding and infant sleep: Are babies who wake to breastfeed at night trying to delay the birth of a sibling? Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:43 PM PDT Scientists argue that infants that wake frequently at night to breastfeed are delaying the resumption of the mother's ovulation and therefore preventing the birth of a sibling with whom they would have to compete.

Scientists firm up origin of cold-adapted yeasts that make cold beer Posted: 09 Apr 2014 05:42 PM PDT As one of the most widely consumed and commercially important beverages on the planet, one would expect the experts to know everything there is to know about lager beer. Now, however, scientists are beginning to color in the margins of yeast ecology and genetics, identifying new strains in new environments and using the tools of molecular biology to ferret out traits that could aid industrial fermentation technologies.

One kind of supersymmetry shown to emerge naturally: Unique phenomenon in condensed matter system Posted: 09 Apr 2014 12:57 PM PDT Physicists show that a topological superconductor is conducive to displaying phenomena of emergent supersymmetry. Sought after in the realm of subatomic particles by physicists for several decades, supersymmetry describes a unique relationship between particles.

Mars: Gusev Crater once held a lake after all, scientist says Posted: 09 Apr 2014 12:57 PM PDT Evidence for an ancient 'Lake Gusev' on Mars has come and gone several times. That lake is looking pretty good today, thanks to new research. New research suggests floodwaters entered the crater through the huge valley that breaches Gusev's southern rim. These floods appear to have ponded long enough to alter the tephra, producing briny solutions. When the brines evaporated, they left behind residues of carbonate minerals. As the lake filled and dried, perhaps many times in succession, it loaded Comanche and its neighbor rocks with carbonates.

Scalable, universal quantum computer? Quantum information processed with system comprising optical photon and trapped atom Posted: 09 Apr 2014 12:57 PM PDT When it comes to recognizing complex patterns or to decoding encrypted messages, conventional computers reach their limits. A whole new quality in the communication and processing of data is expected from a technology that exploits the special properties of quantum particles such as superposition and entanglement. Scientists are pursuing a variety of different concepts towards the development of such a quantum computer. One professor follows the strategy of combining two rather dissimilar techniques: quantum communication using photons, and information processing using stationary atoms. His team has now for the first time realized a quantum logic gate between a single photon and a single atom.

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