ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Extinctions during human era one thousand times more than before
• Understanding, improving body's fight against pathogens
• Benefits for babies exposed to two languages found in Singaporean birth cohort study
• Spinach extract decreases cravings, aids weight loss
• Bar code devised for bacteria that causes tuberculosis
• Could poor stomach absorption of drugs reduce autism medications' effectiveness?
• Modern population boom traced to pre-industrial roots
• Magnetic substorms may sometimes be driven by different process than generally thought
• Aging gracefully: Diving seabirds shed light on declines with age
• Over-the-counter pain reliever may restore immune function in old age
• Clean air halves health costs in Chinese city
• Rediscovering mundane moments brings us unexpected pleasure
• Hidden infection route of major bacterial pathogen uncovered
• Scientists create renewable fossil fuel alternative using bacteria
• Whose to blame for ocean trash? Giant garbage patches help redefine ocean boundaries
• Scientists sequence complete genome of E. coli strain responsible for food poisoning
• Nano-forests to reveal secrets of cells
• Cannabis withdrawal symptoms common among adolescents treated for substance use disorder
• Surprising new role for calcium in sensing pain
• Exceptionally well preserved insect fossils from the Rhône Valley found
• Quantum control of molecules for ultra-fast computers: Single laser stops molecular tumbling motion instantly
• Asian camel crickets now common in US homes
• Migrating birds sprint in spring, but take things easy in autumn
• From silk tunics to relics
• Risk of diabetes in children, adolescents exposed to antipsychotics: Danish 12-year case-control study
• Rainfall monitoring: Mobile phones are taking over
• Seismic hazards reassessed in the Andes
• Cultivating biodiversity: Sorghum example
• Mechanical ventilation a key indicator for Pre-Term Children's maths problems
• Childhood trauma could lead to adult obesity
• Growing mushrooms in diapers
• Skin cells can be engineered into pulmonary valves for pediatric patients
• War between bacteria, phages benefits humans
• Family dinners good for teens' mental health, could protect from cyberbullying
• Quality of US diet improves, gap widens for quality between rich and poor
• Nature's tiny engineers: Corals control their environment, stirring up water eddies to bring nutrients
• Engineers develop new sensor to detect tiny individual nanoparticles
• Likely near-simultaneous earthquakes complicate seismic hazard planning for Italy
• Fruit consumption cuts CVD risk by up to 40 percent
• Mom's hormones could make female magpie chicks more adventurous
• Scientists call for investigation of mysterious cloud-like collections in cells
• How neurons in bats' brains ensure a safe flight
• Nucleotide change could initiate Fragile X Syndrome
• Why plants in the office make us more productive
• New tuberculosis blood test in children: reliable, highly specific
• Invisible blood in urine may indicate bladder cancer
• Sniffing-out smell of disease in feces: 'Electronic nose' for rapid detection of clostridum difficile infection
• Sugar substance 'kills' good HDL cholesterol
• Radar and alarm system for construction vehicles
• Neurons in human skin perform advanced calculations
• Consequences of teen alcohol, marijuana use studied
• Memory and Alzheimer's: Towards a better comprehension of the dynamic mechanisms
• Discovery reveals how bacteria distinguish harmful vs. helpful viruses

Extinctions during human era one thousand times more than before Posted: 02 Sep 2014 12:11 PM PDT The gravity of the world's current extinction rate becomes clearer upon knowing what it was before people came along. A new estimate finds that species die off as much as 1,000 times more frequently nowadays than they used to. That's 10 times worse than the old estimate of 100 times.

Understanding, improving body's fight against pathogens Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:50 AM PDT The crucial role of two signalling molecules, DOK3 and SHP1, in the development and production of plasma cells has been uncovered by researchers. These discoveries advance the understanding of plasma cells and the antibody response, and may lead to optimization of vaccine development and improved treatment for patients with autoimmune diseases such as lupus and tumors such as multiple myeloma.

Benefits for babies exposed to two languages found in Singaporean birth cohort study Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:50 AM PDT There are advantages associated with exposure to two languages in infancy, as team of investigators and clinician-scientists in Singapore and internationally have found. The findings reveal a generalized cognitive advantage that emerges early in bilingual infants, and is not specific to a particular language.

Spinach extract decreases cravings, aids weight loss Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:49 AM PDT A spinach extract containing green leaf membranes called thylakoids decreases hedonic hunger with up to 95 percent -- and increases weight loss with 43 percent, research concludes.

Bar code devised for bacteria that causes tuberculosis Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:49 AM PDT Doctors and researchers will be able to easily identify different types of tuberculosis (TB) thanks to a new genetic barcode devised by scientists. To help identify the different origins and map how tuberculosis moves around the world, spreading from person to person through the air, the research team studied over 90,000 genetic mutations.

Could poor stomach absorption of drugs reduce autism medications' effectiveness? Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:47 AM PDT Many children and adults with autism experience gastrointestinal symptoms, research shows, and such symptoms can impact the absorption and availability of medications. "There are a number of variables that can influence medication response but given how common gastrointestinal issues are for those with autism, it seems the relationship should be examined more closely," said the senior author.

Modern population boom traced to pre-industrial roots Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:47 AM PDT The foundation of the human population explosion, commonly attributed to a sudden surge in industrialization and public health during the 18th and 19th centuries, was actually laid as far back as 2,000 years ago, suggests an extended model of detailed demographic and archeological data.

Magnetic substorms may sometimes be driven by different process than generally thought Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:47 AM PDT Magnetic substorms, the disruptions in geomagnetic activity that cause brightening of aurora, may sometimes be driven by a different process than generally thought, a new study shows.

Aging gracefully: Diving seabirds shed light on declines with age Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:47 AM PDT Scientists who studied long-lived diving birds, which represent valuable models to examine aging in the wild, found that blood oxygen stores, resting metabolism and thyroid hormone levels all declined with age, although diving performance did not. Apparently, physiological changes do occur with age in long-lived species, but they may have no detectable effect on behavioral performance.

Over-the-counter pain reliever may restore immune function in old age Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:47 AM PDT New research involving mice suggests that the key to more youthful immune function might already be in your medicine cabinet. Scientists have shown that macrophages from the lungs of old mice had different responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis than macrophages from young mice, but these changes were reversed by ibuprofen.

Clean air halves health costs in Chinese city Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:46 AM PDT Air pollution regulations over the last decade in Taiyuan, China, have substantially improved the health of people living there, accounting for a greater than 50 percent reduction in costs associated with loss of life and disability between 2001 and 2010, according to researchers in the United States and China.

Rediscovering mundane moments brings us unexpected pleasure Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:46 AM PDT We like to document the exciting and momentous occasions in our lives, but new research suggests there is value in capturing our more mundane, everyday experiences, which can bring us unexpected joy in the future.

Hidden infection route of major bacterial pathogen uncovered Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:46 AM PDT The pattern of infection of the bacterium responsible for causing severe lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis has been uncovered by scientists. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is usually harmless to humans, but in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) or who have weakened immune systems -- such as those who have had an operation or treatment for cancer -- it can cause infections that are resistant to antibiotics.

Scientists create renewable fossil fuel alternative using bacteria Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:44 AM PDT Researchers have engineered the harmless gut bacteria E.coli to generate renewable propane. The development is a step towards commercial production of a source of fuel that could one day provide an alternative to fossil fuels. Propane is an appealing source of cleaner fuel because it has an existing global market.

Whose to blame for ocean trash? Giant garbage patches help redefine ocean boundaries Posted: 02 Sep 2014 08:40 AM PDT Researchers have created a new model that could help determine what area of the world is to blame for each ocean garbage patch of floating debris – a difficult task for a system as complex and massive as the ocean.

Scientists sequence complete genome of E. coli strain responsible for food poisoning Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:43 AM PDT The first complete genome sequencing of a strain of E. coli that is a common cause of outbreaks of food poisoning in the United States has been sequenced by scientists. Although the E. coli strain EDL933 was first isolated in the 1980s, it gained national attention in 1993 when it was linked to an outbreak of food poisoning from Jack-in-the-Box restaurants in the western United States.

Nano-forests to reveal secrets of cells Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:42 AM PDT Vertical nanowires could be used for detailed studies of what happens on the surface of cells. The findings are important for pharmaceuticals research, among other applications. A group of researchers have now managed to make artificial cell membranes form across a large number of vertical nanowires, known as a 'nano-forest'.

Cannabis withdrawal symptoms common among adolescents treated for substance use disorder Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:41 AM PDT Although cannabis -- commonly known as marijuana -- is broadly believed to be nonaddictive, a study has found that 40 percent of cannabis-using adolescents receiving outpatient treatment for substance use disorder reported experiencing symptoms of withdrawal, which are considered a hallmark of drug dependence.

Surprising new role for calcium in sensing pain Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:34 AM PDT When you accidentally touch a hot oven, you rapidly pull your hand away. Researchers have made a surprising discovery in worms about the role of calcium in such pain signaling. They have built a structural model of the molecule that allows calcium ions to pass into a neuron, triggering a signal of pain. These discoveries may help direct new strategies to treat pain in people.

Exceptionally well preserved insect fossils from the Rhône Valley found Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:34 AM PDT In Bavaria, the Tithonian Konservat-Lagerstätte of lithographic limestone is well known as a result of numerous discoveries of emblematic fossils from that area (for example, Archaeopteryx). Now, for the first time, researchers have found fossil insects in the French equivalent of these outcrops -- discoveries which include a new species representing the oldest known water treader.

Quantum control of molecules for ultra-fast computers: Single laser stops molecular tumbling motion instantly Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:34 AM PDT In the quantum world, making the simple atom behave is one thing, but making the more complex molecule behave is another story. Now scientists have figured out an elegant way to stop a molecule from tumbling so that its potential for new applications, such as quantum computing, can be harnessed: shine a single laser on a trapped molecule and it instantly cools to the temperature of outer space, stopping the rotation of the molecule.

Asian camel crickets now common in US homes Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:34 AM PDT With their long, spiky legs and their propensity for eating anything, including each other, camel crickets are the stuff of nightmares. And now research finds that non-native camel cricket species have spread into homes across the eastern United States.

Migrating birds sprint in spring, but take things easy in autumn Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:32 AM PDT Passerine birds, also known as perching birds, that migrate by night tend to fly faster in spring than they do in autumn to reach their destinations. This seasonal difference in flight speed is especially noticeable among birds that only make short migratory flights, research shows. As short-distance migratory birds, they have the luxury to wait until winds are just right.

From silk tunics to relics Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:32 AM PDT Archaeologists working with restorers, are preserving and studying 4th-century tunics ascribed to St. Ambrose. In the course of examining these valuable silk garments, they have made surprising scholarly discoveries regarding the development of early relic worship.

Risk of diabetes in children, adolescents exposed to antipsychotics: Danish 12-year case-control study Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:32 AM PDT Children and adolescents pegged with a psychiatric diagnosis had an increased risk of developing diabetes if they were exposed to antipsychotics. Using data from the nationwide Danish registers, a group of researchers studied 48,299 children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders to document the frequency and possible predictors of type II diabetes, defined by treatment with an oral antidiabetic drug.

Rainfall monitoring: Mobile phones are taking over Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:32 AM PDT Agriculture, water resource management, drought and flood warnings, etc.: rainfall monitoring is vital in many areas. But the observation networks remain insufficient. This is not the case for antennas for mobile telephones, which cover 90% of the world's inhabited areas. Besides transmitting radio signals, they record signal disturbances, which are partly due to precipitation, in order to monitor the quality of networks.

Seismic hazards reassessed in the Andes Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:29 AM PDT Although being able to predict the date on which the next big earthquake will occur is still some way off becoming a reality, it is now possible to identify the areas where they will occur. Researchers have just measured the current deformation in the northern part of the Andes for the first time using GPS, where the tectonics of the Pacific and South American plates govern the high seismic activity in the region. The scientists then identified the areas where the fault, located at the interface of these two plates, is capable of generating large earthquakes or not.

Cultivating biodiversity: Sorghum example Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:29 AM PDT It is difficult to distinguish the human impact on the effects of natural factors on the evolution of crop plants. A Franco-Kenyan research team has managed to do just that for sorghum, one of the main cereals in Africa. The scientists demonstrated how three societies living on the slopes of Mount Kenya have shaped the geographic distribution and structure of the genetic diversity of local varieties.

Mechanical ventilation a key indicator for Pre-Term Children's maths problems Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:29 AM PDT Both the length of time spent in hospital after birth and the use of mechanical ventilation are key indicators of reduced mathematical ability in preterm children, researchers report. Impairments in mathematic abilities are common in very preterm children. Earlier studies of children who are born very preterm (before 32 weeks of gestational age) have shown that they have a 39.4% chance of having general mathematic impairment, compared to 14.9% of those born at term (39 to 41 weeks).

Childhood trauma could lead to adult obesity Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:29 AM PDT Being subjected to abuse during childhood entails a markedly increased risk of developing obesity as an adult. This is the conclusion of a meta-analysis carried out on previous studies, which included a total of 112,000 participants.

Growing mushrooms in diapers Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:29 AM PDT Mexico is the third largest consumer of disposable diapers globally, which led to a Mexican scientist to design a technology capable of degrading the product materials by the mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus.

Skin cells can be engineered into pulmonary valves for pediatric patients Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:22 AM PDT Researchers have found a way to take a pediatric patient's skin cells, reprogram the skin cells to function as heart valvular cells, and then use the cells as part of a tissue-engineered pulmonary valve. It is estimated that nearly 800 patients per year could potentially benefit from bioengineered patient-specific pulmonary valves.

War between bacteria, phages benefits humans Posted: 02 Sep 2014 06:22 AM PDT In our battle with cholera bacteria, we may have an unknown ally in bacteria-killing viruses known as phages. Researchers report that phages can force cholera bacteria, even during active infection in humans, to give up their virulence in order to survive.

Family dinners good for teens' mental health, could protect from cyberbullying Posted: 01 Sep 2014 06:15 PM PDT Cyberbullying was associated with mental health and substance use problems in adolescents, a new study shows, but family dinners may help protect teens from the consequences of cyberbullying and also be beneficial for their mental health.

Quality of US diet improves, gap widens for quality between rich and poor Posted: 01 Sep 2014 06:15 PM PDT The quality of the US diet showed some modest improvement in the last decade in large measure because of a reduction in the consumption of unhealthy trans fats, but the gap in overall diet quality widened between the rich and the poor.

Nature's tiny engineers: Corals control their environment, stirring up water eddies to bring nutrients Posted: 01 Sep 2014 06:14 PM PDT Conventional wisdom has long held that corals -- whose calcium-carbonate skeletons form the foundation of coral reefs -- are passive organisms that rely entirely on ocean currents to deliver dissolved substances, such as nutrients and oxygen. But now scientists have found that they are far from passive, engineering their environment to sweep water into turbulent patterns that greatly enhance their ability to exchange nutrients and dissolved gases with their environment.

Engineers develop new sensor to detect tiny individual nanoparticles Posted: 01 Sep 2014 06:14 PM PDT Scientists have developed a new sensor that can detect and count nanoparticles, at sizes as small as 10 nanometers, one at a time. The researchers say the sensor could potentially detect much smaller particles, viruses and small molecules.

Likely near-simultaneous earthquakes complicate seismic hazard planning for Italy Posted: 01 Sep 2014 06:14 PM PDT Before the shaking from one earthquake ends, shaking from another might begin, amplifying the effect of ground motion. Such sequences of closely timed, nearly overlapping, consecutive earthquakes account for devastating seismic events in Italy's history and should be taken into account when building new structures, according to new research.

Fruit consumption cuts CVD risk by up to 40 percent Posted: 01 Sep 2014 09:35 AM PDT Daily fruit consumption cuts the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by up to 40 percent, according to research. The findings from the seven-year follow-up study of nearly a half million people in the China Kadoorie Biobank found that the more fruit people ate, the more their risk of CVD declined.

Mom's hormones could make female magpie chicks more adventurous Posted: 01 Sep 2014 09:35 AM PDT Female magpies have been shown to be more adventurous than their male siblings, according to new research. "The fact that observable differences between the first hatched and last hatched magpie's behaviors exist indicates that mothers may be able to produce variable traits, possibly through adjustable transmission of maternal hormones or creating the conditions for sibling rivalry. Mothers could potentially produce a variety of personalities perhaps as an adaptive strategy in unpredictable environmental conditions," researchers say.

Scientists call for investigation of mysterious cloud-like collections in cells Posted: 01 Sep 2014 07:23 AM PDT About 50 years ago, electron microscopy revealed the presence of tiny blob-like structures that form inside cells, move around and disappear. But scientists still don't know what they do -- even though these shifting cloud-like collections of proteins are believed to be crucial to the cell, and therefore could offer a new approach to disease treatment. Now, researchers are issuing a call to investigators to focus their attention on the role of these formations.

How neurons in bats' brains ensure a safe flight Posted: 01 Sep 2014 07:23 AM PDT Bats emit ultrasound pulses and measure the echoes reflected from their surroundings. They have an extremely flexible internal navigation system that enables them to do this. A study shows that when a bat flies close to an object, the number of active neurons in the part of a bat's brain responsible for processing acoustic information about spatial positioning increases. This information helps bats to react quickly and avoid obstacles.

Nucleotide change could initiate Fragile X Syndrome Posted: 01 Sep 2014 07:22 AM PDT Researchers reveal how the alteration of a single nucleotide—the basic building block of DNA—could initiate fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of intellectual disability.

Why plants in the office make us more productive Posted: 01 Sep 2014 06:07 AM PDT 'Green' offices with plants make staff happier and more productive than 'lean' designs stripped of greenery, new research shows. The team examined the impact of 'lean' and 'green' offices on staff's perceptions of air quality, concentration, and workplace satisfaction, and monitored productivity levels over subsequent months in two large commercial offices in the UK and The Netherlands.

New tuberculosis blood test in children: reliable, highly specific Posted: 01 Sep 2014 06:07 AM PDT A new blood test provides a fast and accurate tool to diagnose tuberculosis in children, a new proof-of-concept study shows. The newly developed test is the first reliable immunodiagnostic assay to detect active tuberculosis in children. The test features excellent specificity, a similar sensitivity as culture tests in combination with speed of a blood test. The promising findings are a major advance for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children, particularly in tuberculosis-endemic regions.

Invisible blood in urine may indicate bladder cancer Posted: 01 Sep 2014 06:07 AM PDT One in 60 people over the age of 60 who had invisible blood in their urine -- identified by their GP testing their urine -- transpired to have bladder cancer, researchers report. The figure was around half of those who had visible blood in their urine -- the best known indicator of bladder cancer. However, it was still higher than figures for other potential symptoms of bladder cancer that warrant further investigation.

Sniffing-out smell of disease in feces: 'Electronic nose' for rapid detection of clostridum difficile infection Posted: 01 Sep 2014 06:03 AM PDT A fast-sensitive "electronic-nose" for sniffing the highly infectious bacteria C-diff, that causes diarrhea, temperature and stomach cramps, has been developed.

Sugar substance 'kills' good HDL cholesterol Posted: 01 Sep 2014 06:03 AM PDT 'Good' cholesterol is turned 'bad' by a sugar-derived substance, researchers have found. The findings may help scientists focus on developing drugs that reduce methylglyoxal, which was found to damage 'good' cholesterol, which removes excess levels of bad cholesterol from the body, they say.

Radar and alarm system for construction vehicles Posted: 01 Sep 2014 06:03 AM PDT Researchers have developed an alarm system for construction vehicles with a low-cost radar network that can prevent collisions and improve safety in work environments.

Neurons in human skin perform advanced calculations Posted: 01 Sep 2014 06:03 AM PDT Neurons in human skin perform advanced calculations, previously believed that only the brain could perform. A characteristic of neurons that extend into the skin and record touch, is that they branch in the skin so that each neuron reports touch from many highly-sensitive zones on the skin. According to researchers, this branching allows first-order tactile neurons not only to send signals to the brain that something has touched the skin, but also process geometric data about the object touching the skin.

Consequences of teen alcohol, marijuana use studied Posted: 01 Sep 2014 05:58 AM PDT Alcohol use was more commonly reported to compromise relationships with friends and significant others (e.g., boyfriends), researchers studying its consequences report. It was also reported to lead to more regret, particularly among females. Marijuana use on the other hand was more commonly reported to compromise relationships with teachers or supervisors, result in less energy or interest, and result in lower school or job performance.

Memory and Alzheimer's: Towards a better comprehension of the dynamic mechanisms Posted: 31 Aug 2014 12:03 PM PDT A new study opens the door towards better understanding of the neural circuitry and dynamic mechanisms controlling memory as well of the role of an essential element of the hippocampus -- a sub-region named the subiculum.

Discovery reveals how bacteria distinguish harmful vs. helpful viruses Posted: 31 Aug 2014 12:03 PM PDT Viruses can kill bacterial cells or, under the right circumstances, lend them helpful genes that the bacterium could harness to, say, better attack its own hosts. Experiments have now revealed that one type of bacterial immune system can distinguish viral foe from friend, and it does so by watching for one particular cue.

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