ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Super-charged tropical trees: Borneo’s productive trees vitally important for global carbon cycling
• Regenerating plastic grows back after damage
• Fueling aviation with hardwoods
• Extinct kitten-sized hunter discovered
• Ending the perfect storm: Protein key to beating flu pandemics
• IL-27 balances the immune response to influenza and reduces lung damage
• 'Electrosmog' disrupts orientation in migratory birds, scientists show
• GaitTrack app makes cellphone a medical monitor for heart, lung patients
• Higher-yielding crop plants? Plant hormone has dual role in triggering flower formation
• Exploring the magnetism of a single atom
• Pink prosthetic arm 'printed' for teen girl by university students
• 'Rice theory' explains north-south China cultural differences
• Scientists find solution to two long-standing mysteries of cuprate high-temperature superconductivity
• Small mutation changes brain freeze to hot foot
• Universal neuromuscular training an inexpensive, effective way to reduce ACL injuries in athletes
• How immune cells use steroids
• New insight into star cluster formation: Stars on the outskirts actually are the oldest
• New microscope sees what others can't
• Humans may benefit from new insights into polar bear's adaptation to high-fat diet
• Spurt of heart muscle cell division seen in mice well after birth: Implications for repair of congenital heart defects
• New technology using fluorescent proteins tracks cancer cells circulating in blood
• Antibiotic resistance genes are essentially everywhere
• What vigilant squid can teach us about the purpose of pain
• Anti-aging factor offers brain boost, too
• Sockeye salmon vs. Pebble Mine: Protecting a fragile ecosystem in Alaska from destruction
• Radiotherapy: Novel lung cancer treatment meets with success
• Free radicals: What doesn't kill you may make you live longer
• Yeast study identifies novel longevity pathway
• Immune cells found to fuel colon cancer stem cells
• 'Teenage' songbirds experience high mortality due to many causes, study finds
• Fungus may help stop invasive spread of tree-of-heaven
• First method for generating specific, inheritable mutations revealed by researchers
• New grasshopper species named after Grammy winner
• Hepatitis C virus: How viral proteins interact in human cells
• Plant defends itself from pests with mustard bomb
• Luminescent nanocrystal tags enable rapid detection of multiple pathogens in a single test
• First-ever study describes deep-sea animal communities around a sunken shipping container
• Common drug restores blood flow in deadly form of muscular dystrophy: Results from 10-patient case study
• Why a bacterium got its curve -- and why biologists should know
• Gluten-free diet reduces risk of type 1 diabetes in mice
• Improving air quality in NYC would boost children's future earnings by increasing IQ
• 'Parent' cells reset cell division clock
• Light waves allow preferred bond breaking in symmetric molecules
• Pesticides: New insights into their effects on shrimps and snails
• New network protocol for emergency and rescues
• Spanish, Japanese centenarians reveal genetic key to longevity
• Elevating Brain Fluid Pressure Could Prevent Vision Loss
• Detecting trace amounts of explosives with light
• One in 25 middle school children binge drinking, Canadian study finds
• Mouse study offers new clues to cognitive decline
• Nanoscope to probe chemistry on the molecular scale
• A lab in your pocket: Using CAD to load dozens of tests on a lab-on-a-chip
• NASA telescopes coordinate best-ever flare observations
• New order of marine creatures discovered among sea anemones
• Scientists focus on role of ventilation in preventing tuberculosis transmission
• New study sheds light on survivors of the Black Death
• New tool to measure the speed of aging: Your handshake
• Overestimation of radiation exposure may keep women from critical screening
• Premature menopause, effects on later life cognition studied

Super-charged tropical trees: Borneo’s productive trees vitally important for global carbon cycling Posted: 08 May 2014 04:23 PM PDT A team of scientists has found that the woody growth of forests in north Borneo is half as great again as in the most productive forests of north-west Amazonia, an average difference of 3.2 tons of wood per hectare per year.

Regenerating plastic grows back after damage Posted: 08 May 2014 02:23 PM PDT Looking at a smooth sheet of plastic in a laboratory, no one would guess that an impact had recently blasted a hole through it. Researchers have developed materials that not only heal, but regenerate. Until now, self-repairing materials could only bond tiny microscopic cracks. The new regenerating materials fill in large cracks and holes by regrowing material.

Fueling aviation with hardwoods Posted: 08 May 2014 02:23 PM PDT A multi-university team has addressed challenges of introducing advanced biofuels in the transportation pool through the concerted development of technology designed to transform lignocellulosic biomass into a jet fuel surrogate via catalytic chemistry. This promising approach highlights the versatility of lignocellulose.

Extinct kitten-sized hunter discovered Posted: 08 May 2014 02:22 PM PDT Researchers have discovered an ancient kitten-sized predator that lived in Bolivia about 13 million years ago -- one of the smallest species reported in the extinct order Sparassodonta. The species has the features of a tenacious hunter that could feed on animals its own size, the scientists say.

Ending the perfect storm: Protein key to beating flu pandemics Posted: 08 May 2014 02:22 PM PDT A protein called SOCS4 has been shown to act as a handbrake on the immune system's runaway reaction to flu infection, providing a possible means of minimizing the impact of flu pandemics. Scientists have found that without SOCS4 the immune response to influenza infection is slowed and there is a vast increase in the number of damaging inflammatory molecules in the lungs. This flood of inflammatory molecules, known as a 'cytokine storm', is thought to contribute to flu-related deaths in humans.

IL-27 balances the immune response to influenza and reduces lung damage Posted: 08 May 2014 02:22 PM PDT Highly pathogenic (dangerous) influenza strains elicit a strong immune response which can lead to uncontrolled inflammation in the lung and potentially fatal lung injury. A new study demonstrates the importance of IL-27 for the control of immunopathology -- damage to the lung tissue caused by the immune system -- and the therapeutic potential of well-timed IL-27 application to treat life-threatening inflammation during lung infection.

'Electrosmog' disrupts orientation in migratory birds, scientists show Posted: 08 May 2014 01:36 PM PDT For the first time, scientists have demonstrated that the magnetic compass of robins fails entirely when the birds are exposed to AM radio waveband electromagnetic interference -- even if the signals are just a thousandth of the limit value defined by the World Health Organization as harmless.

GaitTrack app makes cellphone a medical monitor for heart, lung patients Posted: 08 May 2014 11:18 AM PDT By simply carrying around their cellphones, patients who suffer from chronic disease could soon have an accurate health monitor that warns their doctors when their symptoms worsen. Unlike apps that merely count steps, this app uses eight motion parameters to perform a detailed analysis of a person's gait, or walking pattern, which can tell physicians much about the patient's cardiopulmonary, muscular and neurological health.

Higher-yielding crop plants? Plant hormone has dual role in triggering flower formation Posted: 08 May 2014 11:18 AM PDT A plant hormone once believed to promote flower formation in annual plants also plays a role in inhibiting flowers from forming. The dual role of this hormone, gibberellin, could be exploited to produce higher-yielding crop plants.

Exploring the magnetism of a single atom Posted: 08 May 2014 11:18 AM PDT Scientists have shown for the first time the maximum theoretical limit of energy needed to control the magnetization of a single atom. The fundamental work can have great implications for the future of magnetic research and technology.

Pink prosthetic arm 'printed' for teen girl by university students Posted: 08 May 2014 11:17 AM PDT Thirteen-year-old Sydney Kendall had one request for the university students building her a robotic prosthetic arm: Make it pink. The students studying biomedical engineering then accomplished that and more. Using a 3-D printer, they created a robotic prosthetic arm out of bright-pink plastic. Total cost: $200, a fraction of the price of standard prosthetics, which start at $6,000.

'Rice theory' explains north-south China cultural differences Posted: 08 May 2014 11:17 AM PDT A new cultural psychology study has found that psychological differences between the people of northern and southern China mirror the differences between community-oriented East Asia and the more individualistic Western world -- and the differences seem to have come about because southern China has grown rice for thousands of years, whereas the north has grown wheat.

Scientists find solution to two long-standing mysteries of cuprate high-temperature superconductivity Posted: 08 May 2014 11:17 AM PDT Scientists seeking to understand the intricacies of high-temperature superconductivity -- the ability of certain materials to carry electrical current with no energy loss -- have been particularly puzzled by a mysterious phase that emerges as charge carriers are added that appears to compete with superconductivity. It's also been a mystery why, within this "pseudogap" phase, the movement of superconducting electrons appears to be restricted to certain directions. Detailed studies of a material as it transforms from an insulator through the "pseudogap" into a full-blown superconductor links two "personality" changes of electrons at a critical point.

Small mutation changes brain freeze to hot foot Posted: 08 May 2014 10:32 AM PDT A point mutation that alters one protein sufficiently to turn a cold-sensitive receptor into one that senses heat has been discovered by researchers. Understanding sensation and pain at this level could lead to more specific pain relievers that wouldn't affect the central nervous system, likely producing less severe side effects than existing medications.

Universal neuromuscular training an inexpensive, effective way to reduce ACL injuries in athletes Posted: 08 May 2014 10:31 AM PDT As participation in high-demand sports such as basketball and soccer has increased over the past decade, so has the number of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in teens and young. The ACL is a critical ligament that stabilizes the knee joint. An ACL injury, one of the most common sports injuries affecting approximately 200,000 Americans each year, often requires surgery and a lengthy period of rehabilitation.

How immune cells use steroids Posted: 08 May 2014 10:30 AM PDT Some immune cells turn themselves off by producing a steroid, researchers have found. The findings have implications for the study of cancers, autoimmune diseases and parasitic infections. "We were really surprised to see that these immune cells are producing a steroid. In cell culture, we see that the steroids play a part in regulating T cell proliferation," says the study's designer. "We had already seen that T-helper cells were producing steroids, but initially we were blind -- what was going on?"

New insight into star cluster formation: Stars on the outskirts actually are the oldest Posted: 08 May 2014 10:29 AM PDT Using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and infrared telescopes, astronomers have made an important advance in the understanding of how clusters of stars come into being. Researchers studied two clusters where sun-like stars currently are forming -- NGC 2024, located in the center of the Flame Nebula, and the Orion Nebula Cluster. From this study, they discovered the stars on the outskirts of the clusters actually are the oldest.

New microscope sees what others can't Posted: 08 May 2014 09:14 AM PDT Microscopes don't exactly lie, but they have limitations. Scanning electron microscopes can't see electrical insulators, and their high energies can actually damage some types of samples. Researchers have now built the first low-energy focused ion beam (FIB) microscope using lithium. The team's new approach opens up the possibility of creating a whole category of FIBs using any one of up to 20 different elements, greatly increasing the options for imaging, sculpting or characterizing materials.

Humans may benefit from new insights into polar bear's adaptation to high-fat diet Posted: 08 May 2014 09:13 AM PDT The polar bear diverged from the brown bear, or grizzly, as recently as several hundred thousand years ago, according to a genome comparison by American, Chinese and Danish researchers. They pinpointed genes that underwent extreme selection over time, specifically genes that deal with fat metabolism and apparently allowed the bear to adapt to a diet unusually high in fat. These genes could provide clues to help humans deal with health problems caused by high-fat diets.

Spurt of heart muscle cell division seen in mice well after birth: Implications for repair of congenital heart defects Posted: 08 May 2014 09:13 AM PDT The entire heart muscle in young children may be capable of regeneration. In young mice 15 days old, cardiac muscle cells undergo a precisely timed spurt of cell division lasting around a day. This previously unobserved phenomenon contradicts the long-held idea that cardiac muscle cells do not divide after the first few days of life.

New technology using fluorescent proteins tracks cancer cells circulating in blood Posted: 08 May 2014 09:13 AM PDT After cancer spreads, finding and destroying malignant cells that circulate in the body is usually critical to patient survival. Now, researchers report that they have developed a new method that allows investigators to label and track single tumor cells circulating in the blood. This advance could help investigators develop a better understanding of cancer spread and how to stop it.

Antibiotic resistance genes are essentially everywhere Posted: 08 May 2014 09:13 AM PDT The largest metagenomic search for antibiotic resistance genes in the DNA sequences of microbial communities from around the globe has found that bacteria carrying those vexing genes turn up everywhere in nature that scientists look for them. The findings add to evidence showing just how common and abundant those resistance genes really are in natural environments.

What vigilant squid can teach us about the purpose of pain Posted: 08 May 2014 09:13 AM PDT Most of us have probably felt that lasting sense of anxiety or even pain after enduring some kind of accident or injury. Now, researchers have the first evidence in any animal that there may be a very good reason for that kind of heightened sensitivity. Squid that behave with extra vigilance after experiencing even a minor injury are more likely to live to see another day, according to a report.

Anti-aging factor offers brain boost, too Posted: 08 May 2014 09:13 AM PDT A variant of the gene KLOTHO is known for its anti-aging effects in people fortunate enough to carry one copy. Now researchers find that it also has benefits when it comes to brain function. The variant appears to lend beneficial cognitive effects by increasing overall levels of KLOTHO in the bloodstream and brain.

Sockeye salmon vs. Pebble Mine: Protecting a fragile ecosystem in Alaska from destruction Posted: 08 May 2014 09:13 AM PDT Scientists are laying the foundation for the extremely controversial topic of building the proposed Pebble Mine just miles away from Bristol Bay, Alaska. When referring to Alaska as the last great frontier, Bristol Bay is what would come to mind. It is 40,000 square miles teaming with caribou, wolves, moose, and, most importantly, salmon.

Radiotherapy: Novel lung cancer treatment meets with success Posted: 08 May 2014 09:12 AM PDT An old idea of retreating lung tumors with radiation is new again, especially with the technological advances seen in radiation oncology over the last decade. "One of the toughest challenges of lung cancer is what to do for patients when the cancer comes back in an area that's been treated previously with radiation treatment," said the lead author. "With some of the technological advances in radiation treatments that have occurred in the last five to 10 years, we're beginning to re-look at the issue and ask – can we target the radiation precisely enough and with a high enough dose to knock the cancer back?"

Free radicals: What doesn't kill you may make you live longer Posted: 08 May 2014 09:12 AM PDT What is the secret to aging more slowly and living longer? Not antioxidants, apparently. Many people believe that free radicals, the sometimes-toxic molecules produced by our bodies as we process oxygen, are the culprit behind aging. Yet a number of studies in recent years have produced evidence that the opposite may be true. A team of researchers discovered that free radicals -- also known as oxidants -- act on a molecular mechanism that, in other circumstances, tells a cell to kill itself.

Yeast study identifies novel longevity pathway Posted: 08 May 2014 09:12 AM PDT A new molecular circuit that controls longevity in yeast and more complex organisms has been identified by a study. Researchers also suggest a therapeutic intervention that could mimic the lifespan-enhancing effect of caloric restriction, no dietary restrictions necessary. The team looked for answers in the ISW2 protein, and found that its absence alters gene expression involved in DNA damage protection. Deletion of ISW2 increases the expression and activity of genes in DNA-damage repair pathways –- also seen in calorie restriction.

Immune cells found to fuel colon cancer stem cells Posted: 08 May 2014 09:12 AM PDT A subset of immune cells directly target colon cancers, rather than the immune system, giving the cells the aggressive properties of cancer stem cells, a new study finds. The researchers discovered that an epigenetic factor called DOT1L is regulated by IL-22, contributing to the cells developing stem cell properties. High levels of DOT1L in patient tumor samples were tied to shorter survival. The researchers suggest DOT1L may be a marker for colon cancer progression, and that this pathway could potentially be targeted in new colon cancer treatments.

'Teenage' songbirds experience high mortality due to many causes, study finds Posted: 08 May 2014 08:10 AM PDT The majority of juvenile bird deaths occur in the first three weeks after they leave the nest, a researcher has found. "Just like teenagers leaving home to live on their own for the first time, these juvenile birds are inexperienced and vulnerable to the outside world," said one researcher. "It is important for conservationists to find ways to provide the right habitats for these birds to survive during what is an important, yet vulnerable, time in their development."

Fungus may help stop invasive spread of tree-of-heaven Posted: 08 May 2014 08:10 AM PDT A naturally occurring fungus might help curb the spread of an invasive tree species that is threatening forests in most of the United States, according to researchers. Researchers tested the fungus -- Verticillium nonalfalfae -- by injecting it into tree-of-heaven, or Ailanthus, plots. The treatment completely eradicated the tree-of-heaven plants in those forests.

First method for generating specific, inheritable mutations revealed by researchers Posted: 08 May 2014 08:10 AM PDT The first method for generating specific and inheritable mutations in the species of the Platynereis model system has been revealed by researchers. The researchers found out that the induced mutations are heritable, demonstrating that TALENs can be used for generating mutant lines in this bristle worm. "This new tool opens the door for detailed in vivo functional analyses in Platynereis and can also facilitate further technical developments. For example, we hope to use TALENs to insert fluorescent reporter genes into the genome. In this way we can study how gene expression is regulated across the entire lifecycle," explains the study's first author.

New grasshopper species named after Grammy winner Posted: 08 May 2014 08:10 AM PDT A newly discovered grasshopper now bears the name of Grammy-award winning singer and activist Ana Lila Downs Sanchez. The scientists named the new species discovered on the side of a mountain road near Oaxaca, Mexico, after the Mexican-American singer as a nod to her efforts to preserve indigenous culture and penchant for wearing colorful, local costumes as part of her performances.

Hepatitis C virus: How viral proteins interact in human cells Posted: 08 May 2014 08:09 AM PDT For the first time scientists have decrypted the interaction network of hepatitis C virus proteins in living human cells. Their findings will contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind inflammatory liver disease caused by hepatitis C viruses and open up new avenues for therapy development.

Plant defends itself from pests with mustard bomb Posted: 08 May 2014 07:08 AM PDT Cruciferous plants use a sophisticated defense system, known as the mustard oil bomb, to get rid of their enemies: If plant tissues are wounded, glucosinolates and an enzyme known as myrosinase come into contact, and, as a result, toxic metabolites are formed which deter most insects. This mechanism, however, has no negative effect on flea beetles, according to scientists. Flea beetles are even able to sequester glucosinolates without the mustard oil bomb being set off by the plant's enzyme.

Luminescent nanocrystal tags enable rapid detection of multiple pathogens in a single test Posted: 08 May 2014 07:04 AM PDT A research team using tunable luminescent nanocrystals as tags to advance medical and security imaging have successfully applied them to high-speed scanning technology and detected multiple viruses within minutes.

First-ever study describes deep-sea animal communities around a sunken shipping container Posted: 08 May 2014 07:03 AM PDT Thousands of shipping containers are lost from cargo vessels each year. In 2004, scientists discovered a lost shipping container almost 1,300 meters below the surface of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. In the first-ever survey of its kind, researchers recently described how deep-sea animal communities on and around the container differed from those in surrounding areas.

Common drug restores blood flow in deadly form of muscular dystrophy: Results from 10-patient case study Posted: 08 May 2014 07:03 AM PDT Researchers have found that a commonly prescribed drug restores blood flow to oxygen-starved muscles of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic muscle-wasting disease that rarely is seen in girls but affects one in 3,500 male babies, profoundly shortening life expectancy. It is the most common fatal disease that affects children.

Why a bacterium got its curve -- and why biologists should know Posted: 08 May 2014 07:03 AM PDT The banana-like curve of the bacteria Caulobacter crescentus provides stability and helps them flourish as a group in the moving water they experience in nature, researchers have discovered. The findings suggest a new way of studying the evolution of bacteria that emphasizes using naturalistic settings.

Gluten-free diet reduces risk of type 1 diabetes in mice Posted: 08 May 2014 06:58 AM PDT New experiments on mice show that mouse mothers can protect their pups from developing type 1 diabetes by eating a gluten-free diet. According to preliminary studies by researchers, the findings may apply to humans. "Preliminary tests show that a gluten-free diet in humans has a positive effect on children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. We therefore hope that a gluten-free diet during pregnancy and lactation may be enough to protect high-risk children from developing diabetes later in life," said one investigator.

Improving air quality in NYC would boost children's future earnings by increasing IQ Posted: 08 May 2014 06:58 AM PDT Reducing air pollution in New York City would result in substantial economic gains for children as a result of increasing their IQs. The study is the first to estimate the costs of IQ loss associated with exposure to air pollution, and is based on prior research on prenatal exposure to air pollutants among low-income children.

'Parent' cells reset cell division clock Posted: 08 May 2014 06:58 AM PDT A 40-year-old theory on when and how cells divide has been overturned by a study that shows that 'parent' cells program a cell division time for their offspring that is different from their own. Scientists have shown that both phases of the cell cycle contribute to the overall change in division time rather than one staying fixed in duration as previously thought. They have developed these findings into a new model that helps scientists predict how a population of cells has divided.

Light waves allow preferred bond breaking in symmetric molecules Posted: 08 May 2014 06:54 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new quantum control mechanism to selectively shake and break C-H bonds in symmetric hydrocarbon molecules with the waveform of femtosecond laser pulses.

Pesticides: New insights into their effects on shrimps and snails Posted: 08 May 2014 06:54 AM PDT Scientists now have a greater understanding of the effects of pesticides on aquatic invertebrates such as shrimps and snails, thanks to new research. It provides an important new approach for systematically measuring and modelling the sensitivity of aquatic invertebrates to various pesticides.

New network protocol for emergency and rescues Posted: 08 May 2014 06:54 AM PDT Researchers have developed an optimizing model of routing protocol of mobile ad hoc network in emergencies and rescues. The proposed solution is based on the improvement of a clustering algorithm and on the creation of a new routing protocol that allows users to easily find an evacuation area in case of emergency.

Spanish, Japanese centenarians reveal genetic key to longevity Posted: 08 May 2014 06:54 AM PDT The genes of 894 men and women over the age of one hundred in Spain and Japan have revealed that the secret to longevity, at least in southern Europe, lies in a variant on chromosome 9p21.3, which had already been associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. Centenarians live at least fifteen years longer than the average person in the West. This exceptional longevity is partially genetic, and it appears that there are a number of gene variants that may hold the key to a healthy old age life.

Elevating Brain Fluid Pressure Could Prevent Vision Loss Posted: 08 May 2014 06:52 AM PDT Scientists have found that pressure from the fluid surrounding the brain plays a role in maintaining proper eye function, opening a new direction for treating glaucoma — the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.

Detecting trace amounts of explosives with light Posted: 08 May 2014 06:52 AM PDT New research may help in the fight against terrorism with the creation of a sensor that can detect tiny quantities of explosives with the use of light and special glass fibers. The researchers describe a novel optical fiber sensor which can detect explosives in concentrations as low as 6.3 ppm (parts per million). It requires an analysis time of only a few minutes.

One in 25 middle school children binge drinking, Canadian study finds Posted: 08 May 2014 06:52 AM PDT Four percent of Canadians aged 12 to 14 years old had consumed five or more drinks on at least one occasion in the preceding year, according to a new study. The findings also indicated that the odds of binge drinking were twice as high among youth with three or more chronic conditions.

Mouse study offers new clues to cognitive decline Posted: 08 May 2014 05:43 AM PDT Certain types of brain cells may be "picky eaters," seeming to prefer one specific energy source over others, new research shows. The finding has implications for understanding the cognitive decline seen in aging and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis. Studying mice, the scientists showed that a specific energy source called NAD is important in cells responsible for maintaining the overall structure of the brain and for performing complex cognitive functions. NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a molecule that harvests energy from nutrients in food and converts it into a form cells can use.

Nanoscope to probe chemistry on the molecular scale Posted: 07 May 2014 06:23 PM PDT By combining atomic force microscopy with infrared synchrotron light, researchers have improved the spatial resolution of infrared spectroscopy by orders of magnitude, while simultaneously covering its full spectroscopic range, enabling the investigation of variety of nanoscale, mesoscale, and surface phenomena that were previously difficult to study.

A lab in your pocket: Using CAD to load dozens of tests on a lab-on-a-chip Posted: 07 May 2014 06:23 PM PDT Labs-on-a-chip hold huge promise for reducing the cost of medical diagnostics while expanding access to health care. Now scientists have developed software that would make them even more powerful: by enabling dozens of tests on a single biochip.

NASA telescopes coordinate best-ever flare observations Posted: 07 May 2014 06:23 PM PDT On March 29, 2014, an X-class flare erupted from the right side of the sun ... and vaulted into history as the best-observed flare of all time. The flare was witnessed by four different NASA spacecraft and one ground-based observatory -- three of which had been fortuitously focused in on the correct spot as programmed into their viewing schedule a full day in advance.

New order of marine creatures discovered among sea anemones Posted: 07 May 2014 06:22 PM PDT A deep-water creature once thought to be one of the world's largest sea anemones, with tentacles reaching more than 6.5 feet long, actually belongs to a new order of animals. The finding is part of a new DNA-based study that presents the first tree of life for sea anemones, a group that includes more than 1,200 species.

Scientists focus on role of ventilation in preventing tuberculosis transmission Posted: 07 May 2014 06:22 PM PDT Scientists studying the role of room ventilation in tuberculosis transmission found that students in Cape Town, South Africa, spend almost 60 percent of their day in poorly ventilated rooms, at risk of transmission.

New study sheds light on survivors of the Black Death Posted: 07 May 2014 06:14 PM PDT A new study suggests that people who survived the medieval mass-killing plague known as the Black Death lived significantly longer and were healthier than people who lived before the epidemic struck in 1347. These findings have important implications for understanding emerging diseases and how they impact the health of individuals and populations of people.

New tool to measure the speed of aging: Your handshake Posted: 07 May 2014 06:14 PM PDT A strong handshake can say a lot about a person: it can indicate power, confidence, health, or aggression. Now scientists say that the strength of a person's grasp may also be one of the most useful ways to measure people's true age.

Overestimation of radiation exposure may keep women from critical screening Posted: 07 May 2014 01:52 PM PDT Misinformation and misunderstanding about the risks associated with ionizing radiation create heightened public concern and fear, and may result in avoidance of screening mammography that can detect early cancers. The authors conclude that medical personnel should make concerted effort to accurately inform women of the risks and benefits of mammography—specifically highlighting the low dose of mammographic ionizing radiation—and provide objective facts to ensure that women make informed decisions about screening.

Premature menopause, effects on later life cognition studied Posted: 07 May 2014 01:51 PM PDT Premature menopause is associated with long-term negative effects on cognitive function, suggests a new study. The average age of menopause is around 50 years in the Western World. Premature menopause refers to menopause at or before 40 years of age, this could be due to a bilateral ovariectomy, (surgically induced menopause)or non-surgical loss of ovarian function (sometimes referred to as 'natural' menopause).

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