ScienceDaily: Top News

---

• Rattled atoms mimic high-temperature superconductivity
• X-ray laser reveals how bacterial protein morphs in response to light
• Finding infant Earths and potential life just got easier
• Source of volcanoes may be much closer than thought: Geophysicists challenge traditional theory underlying origin of mid-plate volcanoes
• Greenhouse gases linked to African rainfall
• Effects on body mass index of gene linked to heavy smoking revealed
• A new look at the finer details of rust show an assumed atomic structure has been wrong all along
• New research paves the way for nano-movies of biomolecules; Scientists use X-ray laser as ultra slow-motion camera
• Smoking and higher mortality in men
• Antarctica: Heat comes from the deep
• Maintaining a reliable value of the cost of climate change
• The walls can talk: New optical technique extracts audio from video
• Endocrine disruptors alter thyroid levels in pregnancy, may affect fetal brain development
• Poisonous cure: Toxic fungi may hold secrets to tackling deadly diseases
• 'Satiety hormone' leptin links obesity to high blood pressure
• Wireless brain sensor could unchain neuroscience from cables
• Approved breast cancer drug offers hope for the treatment of blood disorders
• Why tool-wielding crows are left- or right-beaked
• High-sugar diet in fathers can lead to obese offspring
• 'Non-echolocating' fruit bats actually do echolocate, with wing clicks
• Innate immune system condemns weak cells to their death
• Typhoid Mary, not typhoid mouse: Enzyme protects mice, not humans from typhoid
• Scarcity breeds rationality, new economic study finds
• Electric eels deliver taser-like shocks
• Insecticides foster 'toxic' slugs, reduce crop yields
• Genome sequencing for newborns: What do new parents think?
• New revelations on dark matter and relic neutrinos
• People with mental illness more likely to be tested for HIV
• Model of receptor protein linked to human growth constructed
• Engineer applies robot control theory to improve prosthetic legs
• Reliable RNA analysis now easier with 'dashboard' tool
• Thirty new spider species found in one of China's richest biodiversity hotspots
• Don’t worry, be happy: Just go to bed earlier
• New model to detect aggressive driving
• Milestones in human-machine cooperation
• Astronomers observe galactic 'blow out'
• Cancer from asbestos caused by more than one cell mutation
• Dirt provides new insight into Roman burials
• Localized climate change contributed to ancient southwest depopulation
• Medications for patients with first episode psychosis may not meet guidelines
• Current guidelines not clear on which children most at risk of severe flu complications
• Psychological problems in men experiencing cancer
• Research could improve nuclear power plant safety, and stop your kettle furring up
• Green light for European Extremely Large Telescope construction
• Uncovering one of humankind’s most ancient lineages
• Pulsars with black holes could hold the 'Holy Grail' of gravity
• China agrees to enhance its role in global climate change mitigation: Turning the massive 'coal ship' around won’t be easy, experts say
• 3-D printing to the rescue of gastronomy for frail seniors
• More evidence for impact of lung cancer targeted therapy from practice-changing trial
• Natural substance in red wine has an anti-inflammatory effect in cardiovascular diseases
• Controlled emission and spatial splitting of electron pairs demonstrated
• Mini chromosomes that strengthen tumors
• Technology breakthrough reveals cellular transcription process
• No link found between bladder cancer, use of pioglitazone or rosiglitazone, Avandia
• Potential therapy for second most common form of dementia

Rattled atoms mimic high-temperature superconductivity Posted: 04 Dec 2014 01:03 PM PST An experiment has provided the first fleeting glimpse of the atomic structure of a material as it entered a state resembling room-temperature superconductivity – a long-sought phenomenon in which materials might conduct electricity with 100 percent efficiency under everyday conditions.

X-ray laser reveals how bacterial protein morphs in response to light Posted: 04 Dec 2014 01:03 PM PST Researchers have captured the highest-resolution snapshots ever taken with an X-ray laser that show changes in a protein's structure over time, revealing how a key protein in a photosynthetic bacterium changes shape when hit by light. They achieved a resolution of 1.6 angstroms, equivalent to the radius of a single tin atom.

Finding infant Earths and potential life just got easier Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:31 AM PST Among the billions and billions of stars in the sky, where should astronomers look for infant Earths where life might develop? New research shows where -- and when -- infant Earths are most likely to be found.

Source of volcanoes may be much closer than thought: Geophysicists challenge traditional theory underlying origin of mid-plate volcanoes Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:31 AM PST Geophysicists point to a super-hot layer beneath the tectonic plates as the place of origin for volcanoes, as opposed to deep within the Earth's core.

Greenhouse gases linked to African rainfall Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:31 AM PST Scientists may have solved a long-standing enigma known as the African Humid Period -- an intense increase in cumulative rainfall in parts of Africa that began after a long dry spell following the end of the last ice age and lasting nearly 10,000 years. It has been linked to greenhouse gas concentrations.

Effects on body mass index of gene linked to heavy smoking revealed Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:31 AM PST A genetic variant which causes smokers to smoke more heavily has been shown to be associated with increased body mass index -- but only in those who have never smoked.

A new look at the finer details of rust show an assumed atomic structure has been wrong all along Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:26 AM PST Scientists have been studying the behavior of iron oxide surfaces. The atomic structure of iron oxide, which had been assumed to be well-established, turned out to be wrong. The behavior of iron oxide is governed by missing iron atoms in the atomic layer directly below the surface. This is a big surprise with potential applications in chemical catalysis, electronics or medicine.

New research paves the way for nano-movies of biomolecules; Scientists use X-ray laser as ultra slow-motion camera Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:26 AM PST An international team has caught a light sensitive biomolecule at work with an X-ray laser. The study proves that X-ray lasers can capture the fast dynamics of biomolecules in ultra slow-motion.

Smoking and higher mortality in men Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:26 AM PST An association between smoking and loss of the Y chromosome in blood cells has been demonstrated by recent research. The researchers have previously shown that loss of the Y chromosome is linked to cancer. Since only men have the Y chromosome, these results might explain why smoking is a greater risk factor for cancer among men and, in the broader perspective, also why men in general have a shorter life expectancy.

Antarctica: Heat comes from the deep Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:26 AM PST The water temperatures on the West Antarctic shelf are rising. The reason for this is predominantly warm water from greater depths, which as a result of global change now increasingly reaches the shallow shelf. There it has the potential to accelerate the glacier melt from below and trigger the sliding of big glaciers.

Maintaining a reliable value of the cost of climate change Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:26 AM PST The Social Cost of Carbon puts a dollar value on the climate damages per ton of CO2 released, and is used by -- among others -- policymakers to help determine the costs and benefits of climate policies. A group of economists and lawyers urge several improvements to the government's Social Cost of Carbon figure that would impose a regular, transparent and peer-reviewed process to ensure the figure is reliable and well-supported by the latest facts.

The walls can talk: New optical technique extracts audio from video Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:10 AM PST A simple new optical technique to extract audio information from silent high-speed video has been demonstrated. The work is based on an image-matching process.

Endocrine disruptors alter thyroid levels in pregnancy, may affect fetal brain development Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:10 AM PST A new study provides 'the strongest evidence to date' that endocrine disrupting chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls found in flame retardant cloth, paint, adhesives and electrical transformers, can interfere with thyroid hormone action in pregnant women and may travel across the placenta to affect the fetus.

Poisonous cure: Toxic fungi may hold secrets to tackling deadly diseases Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:10 AM PST Take two poisonous mushrooms, and call me in the morning. While no doctor would ever write this prescription, toxic fungi may hold the secrets to tackling deadly diseases. A team of scientists has discovered an enzyme that is the key to the lethal potency of poisonous mushrooms. The results reveal the enzyme's ability to create the mushroom's molecules that harbor missile-like proficiency in attacking and annihilating a single vulnerable target in the human liver.

'Satiety hormone' leptin links obesity to high blood pressure Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:07 AM PST Leptin, a hormone that regulates the amount of fat stored in the body, also drives the increase in blood pressure that occurs with weight gain, according to researchers.

Wireless brain sensor could unchain neuroscience from cables Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:07 AM PST Neuroscience research has been constrained by the cables required to connect brain sensors to computers for analysis. Scientists have now described a wireless brain-sensing system to acquire high-fidelity neural data during animal behavior experiments.

Approved breast cancer drug offers hope for the treatment of blood disorders Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:07 AM PST A new study provides an explanation as to why blood cancers are more common in men than in women, revealing that estrogens regulate the survival of stem cells that give rise to blood cancers. Moreover, findings in mice with blood neoplasms suggest that a drug called tamoxifen, which targets estrogen receptors and is approved for treatment of breast cancer, may also be a valuable strategy for blocking the development of blood neoplasms in humans.

Why tool-wielding crows are left- or right-beaked Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:07 AM PST New Caledonian crows show preferences when it comes to holding their tools on the left or the right sides of their beaks, in much the same way that people are left- or right-handed. Now researchers suggest that those bill preferences allow each bird to keep the tip of its tool in view of the eye on the opposite side of its head. Crows aren't so much left- or right-beaked as they are left- or right-eyed.

High-sugar diet in fathers can lead to obese offspring Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:07 AM PST Increasing sugar in the diet of male fruit flies for just one or two days before mating can cause obesity in their offspring through alterations that affect gene expression in the embryo. There is also evidence that a similar system regulates obesity susceptibility in mice and humans. The research provides insights into how certain metabolic traits are inherited and may help investigators determine whether they can be altered.

'Non-echolocating' fruit bats actually do echolocate, with wing clicks Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:07 AM PST In a discovery that overturns conventional wisdom about bats, researchers have found that Old World fruit bats -- long classified as 'non-echolocating' -- actually do use a rudimentary form of echolocation. Perhaps most surprisingly, the clicks they emit to produce the echoes that guide them through the darkness aren't vocalizations at all. They are instead produced by the bats' wings, although scientists don't yet know exactly how the bats do it.

Innate immune system condemns weak cells to their death Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:06 AM PST In cell competition the strong eliminate the weak, thereby ensuring optimal tissue fitness. Molecular biologists have now demonstrated that the innate immune system plays a key role in this important mechanism. However, cancer cells also make use of this: they can cause cells that are important for healthy tissue to die.

Typhoid Mary, not typhoid mouse: Enzyme protects mice, not humans from typhoid Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:06 AM PST The bacterium Salmonella Typhi causes typhoid fever in humans, but leaves other mammals unaffected. Researchers now offer one explanation — CMAH, an enzyme that humans lack. Without this enzyme, a toxin deployed by the bacteria is much better able to bind and enter human cells, making us sick.

Scarcity breeds rationality, new economic study finds Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:06 AM PST Through a series of surveys, researchers determined that people with less time or money to spare are better able to focus on what the purchase might be worth to them. The researchers began their inquiry with a finding from a 1985 study that showed participants were willing to pay a premium to buy a beer from a fancy beach resort but offered less money for the same beer when it was available from a corner grocery store. That study concluded that most people draw on contextual clues to determine how much they should pay for an item, with less regard than economics would suggest for an objective analysis of the intrinsic value of the purchase.

Electric eels deliver taser-like shocks Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:06 AM PST The electric eel -- the scaleless Amazonian fish that can deliver an electrical jolt strong enough to knock down a full-grown horse -- possesses an electroshock system uncannily similar to a Taser. That is the conclusion of a nine-month study of the way in which the electric eel uses high-voltage electrical discharges to locate and incapacitate its prey.

Insecticides foster 'toxic' slugs, reduce crop yields Posted: 04 Dec 2014 09:14 AM PST Insecticides aimed at controlling early-season crop pests, such as soil-dwelling grubs and maggots, can increase slug populations, thus reducing crop yields, according to researchers. "Neonicotinoids are the most widely used insecticides in the world," said one expert. "Seed applications of neonicotinoids are often viewed as cheap insurance against pest problems, but our results suggest that they can sometimes worsen pest problems and should be used with care."

Genome sequencing for newborns: What do new parents think? Posted: 04 Dec 2014 09:14 AM PST New parents' attitudes toward newborn genomic testing has been the focus of a new study, which finds that if newborn genomic testing becomes available, there would be robust interest among new parents, regardless of their demographic background.

New revelations on dark matter and relic neutrinos Posted: 04 Dec 2014 09:13 AM PST Satellite have been studying relic radiation (the most ancient light in the Universe). This light has been measured precisely across the entire sky for the first time, in both intensity and polarization, thereby producing the oldest image of the Universe. This primordial light lets us "see" some of the most elusive particles in the Universe: dark matter and relic neutrinos. Between 2009 and 2013, the Planck satellite observed relic radiation, sometimes called cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. Today, with a full analysis of the data, the quality of the map is now such that the imprints left by dark matter and relic neutrinos are clearly visible.

People with mental illness more likely to be tested for HIV Posted: 04 Dec 2014 09:13 AM PST People with mental illness are more likely to have been tested for HIV than those without mental illness, according to a new study. The researchers also found that the most seriously ill – those with schizophrenia and bipolar disease – had the highest rate of HIV testing.

Model of receptor protein linked to human growth constructed Posted: 04 Dec 2014 08:10 AM PST A three-dimensional model of a protein linked to human growth has been constructed by researchers, providing a visual for the beginnings of a drug discovery campaign to figure out compounds that will bind to the protein, in the hopes of someday providing treatment for growth-altering conditions.

Engineer applies robot control theory to improve prosthetic legs Posted: 04 Dec 2014 08:08 AM PST New research enables powered prosthetics to dynamically respond to the wearer's environment and help amputees walk. Wearers of the robotic leg could walk on a treadmill almost as fast as an able-bodied person.

Reliable RNA analysis now easier with 'dashboard' tool Posted: 04 Dec 2014 06:11 AM PST An international multi-laboratory team has demonstrated a new software tool, the 'erccdashboard,' that can evaluate the performance of experimental methods used to study gene expression. It provides the first standardized approach for any lab to evaluate the quality of its gene expression analyses.

Thirty new spider species found in one of China's richest biodiversity hotspots Posted: 04 Dec 2014 06:11 AM PST Scientists have devoted years to study the astounding diversity hidden in the depths of the Xishuangbanna tropical rain forests. One team now reveals 30 new spider species, which constitutes a minor share of what is yet to be found in this biodiversity hotspot.

Don’t worry, be happy: Just go to bed earlier Posted: 04 Dec 2014 06:11 AM PST Researchers link late evenings to repetitive negative thoughts. When you go to bed, and how long you sleep at a time, might actually make it difficult for you to stop worrying. So say researchers, who found that people who sleep for shorter periods of time and go to bed very late at night are often overwhelmed with more negative thoughts than those who keep more regular sleeping hours.

New model to detect aggressive driving Posted: 04 Dec 2014 06:11 AM PST Researchers have developed a system capable of detecting patterns of reckless driving behavior with non intrusive methods for the driver.

Milestones in human-machine cooperation Posted: 04 Dec 2014 06:11 AM PST Major technical progress has been made on several fronts with the Robo-Mate exoskeleton. A key focus of the initial twelve months of the Robo-Mate project was to define the various production processes of end-users from different industries (e.g. automotive, automotive components, dismantling, and scrap recycling).

Astronomers observe galactic 'blow out' Posted: 04 Dec 2014 06:11 AM PST For the first time, an international team of astronomers has revealed the dramatic 'blow out' phase of galactic evolution. The astronomers have discovered dense gas being blasted out of a compact galaxy (called SDSS J0905+57) at speeds of up to two million miles per hour. The gas is being driven to distances of tens of thousands of light years by the intense pressure exerted on it by the radiation of stars that are forming rapidly at the galaxy's center. This is having a major impact on the evolution of the galaxy.

Cancer from asbestos caused by more than one cell mutation Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:43 AM PST It has been a long held belief that tumors arising from exposure to asbestos are caused by mutations in one cell, which then produces multiple clones. This hypothesis is challenged by new research, which suggests it is caused by mutations in multiple cells.

Dirt provides new insight into Roman burials Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:43 AM PST The first scientific evidence of frankincense being used in Roman burial rites in Britain has been uncovered by a team of archaeological scientists. The findings demonstrate that, even while the Roman Empire was in decline, these precious substances were being transported to its furthest northern outpost.

Localized climate change contributed to ancient southwest depopulation Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:43 AM PST The role of localized climate change in one of the great mysteries of North American archaeology -- the depopulation of southwest Colorado by ancestral Pueblo people in the late 1200s -- has been detailed by researchers. In the process of their study, investigators address one of the mysteries of modern-day climate change: How will humans react?

Medications for patients with first episode psychosis may not meet guidelines Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:43 AM PST Many patients with first-episode psychosis receive medications that do not comply with recommended guidelines for first-episode treatment, researchers have found. Current guidelines emphasize low doses of antipsychotic drugs and strategies for minimizing the side effects that might contribute to patients stopping their medication. A NIH-funded study finds that almost 40 percent of people with first-episode psychosis in community mental health clinics across the country might benefit from medication treatment changes.

Current guidelines not clear on which children most at risk of severe flu complications Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:41 AM PST Children born prematurely are at an increased risk of flu-related complications, despite not being identified as an "at risk" group in UK, USA, or WHO guidelines, and should be a priority group for the seasonal flu vaccination, new research suggests.

Psychological problems in men experiencing cancer Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:41 AM PST Some key markers for vulnerability to psychological problems in men experiencing cancer have been identified by researchers. A group of 127 men aged 18 and over with a cancer diagnosis were recruited through the National Health Service in England and cancer charities between April 2009 and April 2011. The participants were assessed for demographic factors, social support, anxiety and depression, and distress. The findings indicated that participants who were separated and divorced had lower social support and greater depression. Younger age was related to higher anxiety, and distress. Living in an area of higher deprivation indicated greater depression and anxiety. Social support was also a key indicator of psychological health.

Research could improve nuclear power plant safety, and stop your kettle furring up Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:41 AM PST Taking inspiration from nature, researchers have created a versatile model to predict how stalagmite-like structures form in nuclear processing plants – as well as how lime scale builds up in kettles.

Green light for European Extremely Large Telescope construction Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:41 AM PST ESO's main governing body, the Council gave the green light for the construction of the European Extremely Large Telescope in two phases. Spending of around one billion euros has been authorized for the first phase, which will cover the construction costs of a fully working telescope with a suite of powerful instruments and first light targeted in ten years time. It will enable tremendous scientific discoveries in the fields of exoplanets, the stellar composition of nearby galaxies and the deep Universe. The largest ESO contract ever, for the telescope dome and main structure, will be placed within the next year.

Uncovering one of humankind’s most ancient lineages Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:41 AM PST Scientists have successfully discovered one of modern humans' ancient lineages through the sequencing of genes of the Southern African Khoisan tribespeople. This is the first time that the history of humankind populations has been analyzed and matched to Earth's climatic conditions over the last 200,000 years.

Pulsars with black holes could hold the 'Holy Grail' of gravity Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:41 AM PST The intermittent light emitted by pulsars, the most precise timekeepers in the universe, allows scientists to verify Einstein's theory of relativity, especially when these objects are paired up with another neutron star or white dwarf that interferes with their gravity. However, this theory could be analysed much more effectively if a pulsar with a black hole were found, except in two particular cases, according to researchers. Pulsars are very dense neutron stars that are the size of a city (their radius approaches ten kilometers), which, like lighthouses for the universe, emit gamma radiation beams or X-rays when they rotate up to hundreds of times per second. These characteristics make them ideal for testing the validity of the theory of general relativity, published by Einstein between 1915 and 1916.

China agrees to enhance its role in global climate change mitigation: Turning the massive 'coal ship' around won’t be easy, experts say Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:40 AM PST A rapid process of urbanization and an expanding middle class with increasingly western tastes will keep energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in China at high levels over the next 20 years. However, changes are unfolding in China that offer promise and opportunities for cutting emissions and for promoting sustainable energy and climate policies.

3-D printing to the rescue of gastronomy for frail seniors Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:40 AM PST Researchers are now developing personalised food for elderly people with chewing or swallowing problems, by working on printable versions of meat and vegetables.

More evidence for impact of lung cancer targeted therapy from practice-changing trial Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:40 AM PST For previously untreated lung cancer patients with a particular genetic change, a new targeted therapy is better than standard chemotherapy, a new study confirms. This work involved 343 patients with previously untreated ALK-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer. It showed that those patients who received crizotinib did better with respect to improvement in symptoms and delay in growth of the cancer than those on standard chemotherapy. Also the new targeted drug had no unexpected side effects.

Natural substance in red wine has an anti-inflammatory effect in cardiovascular diseases Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:40 AM PST A natural substance present in red wine, resveratrol, inhibits the formation of inflammatory factors that trigger cardiovascular diseases, a research team concludes. They report that resveratrol binds with the KSRP regulator protein and provides for its activation.

Controlled emission and spatial splitting of electron pairs demonstrated Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:40 AM PST In quantum optics, generating entangled and spatially separated photon pairs (e.g. for quantum cryptography) is already a reality. So far, it has, however, not been possible to demonstrate an analogous generation and spatial separation of entangled electron pairs in solids. Physicists have now taken a decisive step in this direction. They have demonstrated for the first time the on-demand emission of electron pairs from a semiconductor quantum dot and verified their subsequent splitting into two separate conductors.

Mini chromosomes that strengthen tumors Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:40 AM PST Cancers are due to genetic aberrations in certain cells that gain the ability to divide indefinitely. This proliferation of sick cells generates tumors, which gradually invade healthy tissue. Therefore, current therapies essentially seek to destroy cancer cells to stop their proliferation. Through high-throughput genetic sequencing of glioblastoma cells, one of the most deadly brain tumors, a team of geneticists has discovered that some of these mutations are caused by supplemental extrachromosomal DNA fragments, called double minutes, which enable cancer cells to better adapt to their environment and therefore better resist to treatments meant to destroy them.

Technology breakthrough reveals cellular transcription process Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:38 AM PST A new technology that reveals cellular gene transcription in greater detail has been developed by researchers. "This new research tool offers us a more profound view of the immune responses that are involved in a range of diseases, such as HIV infection. At the level of gene transcription, this had been difficult, complex and costly to do with current technologies, such as microscopy," a researcher said.

No link found between bladder cancer, use of pioglitazone or rosiglitazone, Avandia Posted: 03 Dec 2014 03:51 PM PST Some previous studies have linked the diabetes medication pioglitazone to bladder cancer. However a new study -- including more than one million people in six populations worldwide -- has found no link between either pioglitazone or rosiglitazone, also known as Avandia, and bladder cancer.

Potential therapy for second most common form of dementia Posted: 03 Dec 2014 03:51 PM PST Drugs that boost the function of a specific type of neurotransmitter receptor may provide benefit to patients with the second most common type of dementia, according to research.

You are subscribed to email updates from All Top News -- ScienceDaily To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States