ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Wealth and power may have played a stronger role than 'survival of the fittest'
• Supercomputers help solve puzzle-like bond for biofuels
• Morning is the time for powerful lightning
• Tanning Leather: Scientists find differences in tanning treatments for materials
• East Antarctica melting could be explained by oceanic gateways
• Some things hugs can't fix: Parental warmth does not remove anxiety that follows punishment
• On pi day, how scientists use this number
• Mars rover arm delivers rock powder sample
• Let it go! SMAP almost ready to map frozen soil
• Laughter is an effective catalyst for new relationships
• Second natural quasicrystal ever found in ancient meteorite
• Predicting prostate cancer: Nanotechnology shows promise for more accurate prostate cancer screening and prognosis
• Milk protein comparison unveils nutritional gems for developing babies
• Baboon friends swap gut germs
• DNA is packaged like a yoyo, scientists find
• Colorful life-form catalog will help discern if we're alone
• Scientists make surprising finding in stroke research
• Direct evidence of gadolinium deposition in brain tissues following contrast-enhanced MRI exams
• To save an entire species, all you need is $1. 3 million a year
• Genome-editing tool streamlined to thwart 'deadliest' animal
• Persuasive power: Members of Congress can sway the public
• New insights into radiation damage evolution inside a nuclear reactor
• New technique to chart protein networks in living cells
• Symmetry matters in graphene growth
• Value of zoos, aquariums in boosting biodiversity understanding
• Maps predict strength of structures
• Losing weight substantially reduces atrial fibrillation
• Heart bypass surgery outperforms new generation stents
• A new method for making perovskite solar cells
• Cropping Africa's wet savannas would bring high environmental costs
• Past warming increased snowfall on Antarctica, affecting global sea level
• Catalyst destroys common toxic nerve agents quickly
• Solar could meet California energy demand 3 to 5 times over
• Cyborg beetle research allows free-flight study of insects
• No reason to believe yeti legends to be inspired by an unknown type of bear
• Frequency of tornadoes, hail linked to El Niño, La Niña
• New images of the brain show the forgetful side effect of frequent recall
• Universal public drug coverage would save Canada billions
• Products that Reversibly Change Shape with Temperature May Revolutionize Medicine
• Can mechanisms used during hibernation help animals colonize new habitats?
• Finger lengths may indicate risk of schizophrenia in males
• Time lapse snapshots of a nova's fading light
• Smithsonian’s National Zoo Asks Public to Name Andean Bear Cub Brothers
• Irritable bowel syndrome defined by symptoms, relieved through trust, patience
• A second minor planet may possess Saturn-like rings: Features around Chiron may signal rings, jets, or a shell of dust
• New colon cancer culprit found by vet researchers
• Nano piano's lullaby could mean storage breakthrough
• Mental health misdiagnosis twice more likely for socially disadvantaged groups
• A breakfast of champions for diabetics
• Winter months SAD for US Treasury securities
• How Millennials get their news
• Study of veterans finds family support during deployment reduces suicidal thoughts
• New remote control for molecular motors
• New system for detecting adverse effects of medications using social media
• Cancer researchers identify new function in an old acquaintance
• Depictions of race on TV news can influence perception of police
• Groundbreaking approach to evaluate sleep disorders developed
• Motor neurone disease: Researchers identify new group of gene suspects
• Low vaccination rates likely fuel the 2015 measles outbreak, calculations show
• Memory and effects on the aging brain

Wealth and power may have played a stronger role than 'survival of the fittest' Posted: 16 Mar 2015 03:55 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a dramatic decline in genetic diversity in male lineages four to eight thousand years ago -- likely the result of the accumulation of material wealth, while in contrast, female genetic diversity was on the rise. This male-specific decline occurred during the mid- to late-Neolithic period.

Supercomputers help solve puzzle-like bond for biofuels Posted: 16 Mar 2015 03:55 PM PDT Scientists have discovered one of life's strongest bonds with the help of supercomputers. The research discovery could boost efforts to develop catalysts for biofuel production from non-food waste plants. The bond holds together the proteins Dockerin and Cohesin in a way similar to the Chinese Finger Trap puzzle, tightening under stress.

Morning is the time for powerful lightning Posted: 16 Mar 2015 03:54 PM PDT Wherever you are, if it's 8 a.m. it's time for the kids to be in school, time perhaps for a second cup of coffee, and time for the most powerful lightning strokes of the day. Not the largest number of lightning flashes, just the most powerful.

Tanning Leather: Scientists find differences in tanning treatments for materials Posted: 16 Mar 2015 03:54 PM PDT Cod liver oil and willow bark extract used in the tanning of skins for clothing and other products offer notable differences in treatment, a study by a team of scientists shows. Their findings show the promise of a technique that may be used to identify the aging behavior of materials and to examine delicate works of art.

East Antarctica melting could be explained by oceanic gateways Posted: 16 Mar 2015 03:39 PM PDT Researchers have discovered two seafloor gateways that could allow warm ocean water to reach the base of Totten Glacier, East Antarctica's largest and most rapidly thinning glacier. The discovery probably explains the glacier's extreme thinning and raises concerns about how it will affect sea level rise.

Some things hugs can't fix: Parental warmth does not remove anxiety that follows punishment Posted: 16 Mar 2015 01:59 PM PDT A loving mom can't overcome the anxiety and aggression caused by corporal punishment, and her otherwise warm demeanor may make it worse, according to recent research.

On pi day, how scientists use this number Posted: 12 Mar 2015 08:11 AM PDT If you like numbers, you will love March 14, 2015. When written as a numerical date, it's 3/14/15, corresponding to the first five digits of pi (3.1415) -- a once-in-a-century coincidence! Pi Day, which would have been the 136th birthday of Albert Einstein, is a great excuse to eat pie, and to appreciate how important the number pi is to math and science.

Mars rover arm delivers rock powder sample Posted: 12 Mar 2015 08:11 AM PDT NASA's Curiosity Mars rover used its robotic arm Wednesday, March 11, to sieve and deliver a rock-powder sample to an onboard instrument. The sample was collected last month before the team temporarily suspended rover arm movement pending analysis of a short circuit.

Let it go! SMAP almost ready to map frozen soil Posted: 13 Mar 2015 08:11 AM PDT Those who feel as though they've been living in the never-ending winter of the movie "Frozen" this year may be glad to hear that the spring thaw is now typically arriving up to two weeks earlier in the Northern Hemisphere than it did 20 to 30 years ago. But the changing date of the spring thaw has consequences far beyond reducing the number of mornings when you have to scrape off your windshield.

Laughter is an effective catalyst for new relationships Posted: 16 Mar 2015 01:07 PM PDT If you want someone to open up to you, just make them laugh. Sharing a few good giggles and chuckles makes people more willing to tell others something personal about themselves, without even necessarily being aware that they are doing so, researchers say.

Second natural quasicrystal ever found in ancient meteorite Posted: 16 Mar 2015 01:07 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a quasicrystal -- so named because of its unorthodox arrangement of atoms -- in a 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite from a remote region of northeastern Russia, bringing to two the number of natural quasicrystals ever discovered.

Predicting prostate cancer: Nanotechnology shows promise for more accurate prostate cancer screening and prognosis Posted: 16 Mar 2015 01:07 PM PDT A study in the emerging field of nanocytology could one day help men make better decisions about whether or not to undergo aggressive prostate cancer treatments. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was once the recommended screening tool for detecting prostate cancer, but there is now disagreement over the use of this test because it can't predict which men with elevated PSA levels will actually develop an aggressive form of the disease.

Milk protein comparison unveils nutritional gems for developing babies Posted: 16 Mar 2015 01:07 PM PDT Human babies appear to need more of a nutritional boost from breast-milk proteins than do infants of one of their closest primate relatives, suggests a study comparing human milk with the milk of rhesus macaque monkeys.

Baboon friends swap gut germs Posted: 16 Mar 2015 01:07 PM PDT The warm soft folds of the intestines are teeming with thousands of species of bacteria that help break down food, synthesize vitamins, regulate weight and resist infection. If they're so key to health, what factors shape an individual's gut microbial makeup? Previous studies have pointed to the food we eat, the drugs we take, genetics, even house dust. Now, a new study in baboons suggests that relationships may play a role, too.

DNA is packaged like a yoyo, scientists find Posted: 16 Mar 2015 01:07 PM PDT DNA uncoils from the nucleosome asymmetrically (uncoiling from one end much more easily) scientists have discovered. The DNA is packaged into chromosomes, which resemble beaded bracelets. The string of DNA is coiled around beads, called histones, to create nucleosomes. These nucleosomes are braided together into beaded strings that are intricately woven into chromosomes, they report.

Colorful life-form catalog will help discern if we're alone Posted: 16 Mar 2015 01:06 PM PDT While looking for life on planets beyond our own solar system, a group of international scientists has created a colorful catalog containing reflection signatures of Earth life forms that might be found on planet surfaces throughout the cosmic hinterlands. The new database and research gives humans a better chance to learn if we are not alone.

Scientists make surprising finding in stroke research Posted: 16 Mar 2015 01:05 PM PDT Scientists have made an important new discovery about the brain's immune system that could lead to potential new treatments for stroke and other related conditions.

Direct evidence of gadolinium deposition in brain tissues following contrast-enhanced MRI exams Posted: 16 Mar 2015 01:04 PM PDT New research finds direct evidence of gadolinium deposition in neuronal tissues following intravenous administration of gadolinium-based contrast agents used in MRI exams. "Despite evidence that trace amounts of gadolinium are depositing in neural tissues, there is currently no data to suggest that it's harmful to patients," notes one researcher.

To save an entire species, all you need is $1. 3 million a year Posted: 16 Mar 2015 01:04 PM PDT How much would you pay to save a species from becoming extinct? A thousand dollars, a 1 million or $10 million or more? A new study shows that a subset of species – in this case 841 to be exact – can be saved from extinction for about $1.3 million per species per year.

Genome-editing tool streamlined to thwart 'deadliest' animal Posted: 16 Mar 2015 01:03 PM PDT A red-hot new technology has been streamlined to make it more efficient at making changes in mosquito genetics. The discovery could enable more effective approaches to mosquito and disease control.

Persuasive power: Members of Congress can sway the public Posted: 16 Mar 2015 01:03 PM PDT Members of the U.S. Congress really do have the power to persuade their constituents in several different ways, according to a first-of-its kind American national study. Researchers found that citizens who participated in an online town hall with their U.S. representative or senator were more likely to agree with the legislator on an important policy issue.

New insights into radiation damage evolution inside a nuclear reactor Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:57 AM PDT Two reports are helping crack the code of how certain materials respond in the highly damaging radiation environments within a nuclear reactor.

New technique to chart protein networks in living cells Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:57 AM PDT Fully automated single molecule measurements allow scientists to probe complex biological networks in living cells.The technique holds promise for understanding diseases and for drug discovery, they say.

Symmetry matters in graphene growth Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:57 AM PDT New research has detailed the subtle interplay between carbon and substrate atoms in the growth of graphene. The results may lead to finer control over the growth of graphene films for applications.

Value of zoos, aquariums in boosting biodiversity understanding Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:57 AM PDT Zoos and aquariums around the world have a crucial role to play in helping people understand how they can protect animals and their natural habitats, new research has found. The findings of the study, which is the biggest of its kind ever conducted, involved 5,661 respondents at 26 zoos and aquariums, in 19 different countries.

Maps predict strength of structures Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:56 AM PDT Inspired by seashells, researchers create a design map that predicts the strength, stiffness and toughness of composite materials.

Losing weight substantially reduces atrial fibrillation Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:56 AM PDT Obese patients with atrial fibrillation who lost at least 10 percent of their body weight were six times more likely to achieve long-term freedom from this common heart rhythm disorder compared to those who did not lose weight, according to a study.

Heart bypass surgery outperforms new generation stents Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:56 AM PDT Despite the advent of a new generation of stents, patients with multiple narrowed arteries in the heart who received coronary artery bypass grafting fared better than those whose arteries were opened with balloon angioplasty and stents in a recent study.

A new method for making perovskite solar cells Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:56 AM PDT Researchers have come up with a new way of making thin perovskite films for solar cells. The method forms perovskite crystals at room temperature, which could be helpful in mass production settings. The technique is especially well suited to make ultra-thin, semitransparent films, which could be used in photovoltaic windows.

Cropping Africa's wet savannas would bring high environmental costs Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:54 AM PDT With the global population rising, analysts and policymakers have targeted Africa's vast wet savannas as a place to produce staple foods and bioenergy groups at low environmental costs. But a new report finds that converting Africa's wet savannas into farmland would come at a high environmental cost and, in some cases, fail to meet existing standards for renewable fuels.

Past warming increased snowfall on Antarctica, affecting global sea level Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:54 AM PDT A new study confirms that snowfall in Antarctica will increase significantly as the planet warms, offsetting future sea level rise from other sources -- but the effect will not be nearly as strong as many scientists previously anticipated because of other, physical processes.

Catalyst destroys common toxic nerve agents quickly Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:51 AM PDT Scientists have developed a robust new material, inspired by biological catalysts, that is extraordinarily effective at destroying toxic nerve agents that are a threat around the globe. The material, a zirconium-based metal-organic framework, degrades in minutes one of the most toxic chemical agents known to humankind: Soman, a more toxic relative of sarin. Computer simulations show the MOF should be effective against other easy-to-make agents, such as VX.

Solar could meet California energy demand 3 to 5 times over Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:51 AM PDT In the face of global climate change, increasing the use of renewable energy resources is one of the most urgent challenges facing the world. New work finds that the amount of energy that could be generated from solar equipment constructed on and around existing infrastructure in California would exceed the state's demand by up to five times.

Cyborg beetle research allows free-flight study of insects Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:51 AM PDT Cyborg insect research is enabling new revelations about a muscle used by beetles for finely graded turns. The remote-controlled beetles equipped with radio backpacks are showcasing the potential of miniature electronics in biological research.

No reason to believe yeti legends to be inspired by an unknown type of bear Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:51 AM PDT A Venezuelan evolutionary biologist and a US zoologist state that they have refuted, through mitochondrial DNA sequencing, a recent claim, also based on such sequencing, that an unknown type of bear exists in the Himalayas and that it may be, at least in part, the source of yeti legends.

Frequency of tornadoes, hail linked to El Niño, La Niña Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:51 AM PDT Climate scientists can spot El Niño and La Niña conditions developing months ahead of time, and they use this knowledge to make more accurate forecasts of droughts, flooding and even hurricane activity around the world. Now, a new study shows that El Niño and La Niña conditions can also help predict the frequency of tornadoes and hail storms in some of the most susceptible regions of the United States.

New images of the brain show the forgetful side effect of frequent recall Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:51 AM PDT A new study has shown how intentional recall is beyond a simple reawakening of a memory; and actually leads us to forget other competing experiences that interfere with retrieval. Quite simply, the very act of remembering may be one of the major reasons why we forget.

Universal public drug coverage would save Canada billions Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:51 AM PDT Canada could save $7.3 billion annually with universal public coverage of medically necessary prescription drugs, researchers say. Canada is the only developed country with a universal health care system that does not include prescription drug coverage.

Products that Reversibly Change Shape with Temperature May Revolutionize Medicine Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:49 AM PDT New research highlights the capability of reversible shape-memory polymers to change their shape when heated to body temperature and then switch back to their original shape when cooled to room temperature.The technology could have applications in temperature intervals relevant for biomedical applications -- for example, devices for external short-term applications such as bandages or temporary fixation parts, where the product would be activated upon exposure to human body temperature. The technology could also be used for home-care products to support the daily life of disabled or elderly people or devices such as reversible self-locking shoe binders for handicapped people.

Can mechanisms used during hibernation help animals colonize new habitats? Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:49 AM PDT Heterothermy, the ability of some animals to lower their metabolism and body temperature, is traditionally seen as an effective adaptation to predictable seasonal bottlenecks of unproductive cold periods. A new review suggests that the use of heterothermy may have been used as a response to acute emergency situations in animals that colonized Madagascar.

Finger lengths may indicate risk of schizophrenia in males Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:49 AM PDT Research suggests that the ratio of the lengths of the index finger and the ring finger in males may be predictive of a variety of disorders related to disturbed hormonal balance. When the index finger is shorter than the ring finger, this results in a small 2D:4D ratio, pointing to a high exposure to testosterone in the uterus.

Time lapse snapshots of a nova's fading light Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:49 AM PDT Scientists have, for the first time, examined a detailed "time lapse" X-ray image of the expansion of a classical nova explosion using the GK Persei nova -- a binary star system which underwent a nova explosion in 1901. Through this work, they hope to gain a better understanding of the expansion of gases in the universe, including not only in classical novae but also in supernovae -- tremendous stellar explosions that are believed to be responsible for the creation of heavy elements such as uranium which cannot be produced by normal stars.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo Asks Public to Name Andean Bear Cub Brothers Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:47 AM PDT The Smithsonian's National Zoo is inviting the public to name two rambunctious and charismatic 18-week-old male Andean bear cubs. Starting today, March 16, fans can vote on the Zoo's website for their favorite among names reflecting the cultural significance of Andean bears to the Quechua and Aymara, the indigenous communities of the Andes region, the native habitat of Andean bears.

Irritable bowel syndrome defined by symptoms, relieved through trust, patience Posted: 16 Mar 2015 10:46 AM PDT Irritable bowel syndrome racks up an impact on quality of life and health care spending: costing more than $20 billion a year in treatment and symptoms that include stomach pain and altered bowel habits causing nearly as many missed work days as the common cold.

A second minor planet may possess Saturn-like rings: Features around Chiron may signal rings, jets, or a shell of dust Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:27 AM PDT There are only five bodies in our solar system that are known to bear rings. The most obvious is the planet Saturn; to a lesser extent, rings of gas and dust also encircle Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune. The fifth member of this haloed group is Chariklo, one of a class of minor planets called centaurs: small, rocky bodies that possess qualities of both asteroids and comets. Scientists only recently detected Chariklo's ring system -- a surprising finding, as it had been thought that centaurs are relatively dormant. Now scientists have detected a possible ring system around a second centaur, Chiron.

New colon cancer culprit found by vet researchers Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:27 AM PDT Colon cancer is a heavily studied disease -- and for good reason. It is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and its numbers are on the rise, from 500,00 deaths in 1990 to 700,000 in 2010. This growth comes despite scientists' ever-increasing knowledge of the genetic mutations that initiate and drive this disease. Now, a team of researchers has found evidence of a new culprit in the disease, a protein called MSI2.

Nano piano's lullaby could mean storage breakthrough Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:27 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated the first-ever recording of optically encoded audio onto a non-magnetic plasmonic nanostructure, opening the door to multiple uses in informational processing and archival storage.

Mental health misdiagnosis twice more likely for socially disadvantaged groups Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:27 AM PDT The shooting of an unarmed teenager in Ferguson ignited a global discussion about implicit racial bias. You might think that clinical therapists -- people trained to understand the mind -- would be immune from this bias. But a new study finds that the social identities of patients and therapists affect the accuracy of the diagnosis: Therapists were twice as likely to misdiagnose mental illness when patients were from a disadvantaged, compared to an advantaged, group.

A breakfast of champions for diabetics Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:27 AM PDT For people with type-2 diabetes, blood sugar surges -- glucose spikes after meals -- can be life threatening, leading to cardiovascular complications. A new study demonstrates a new way to suppress deadly glucose surges throughout the day by eating a high-caloric breakfast and a more modest dinner.

Winter months SAD for US Treasury securities Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:27 AM PDT The best time to invest in US Treasury securities may be spring, thanks to seasonal variations in investor risk tolerance linked to depression. A team of finance researchers found that the monthly return on those securities showed an average swing of 80 basis points between October -- when returns peaked -- and April, when they bottomed out.

How Millennials get their news Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:27 AM PDT Millennials are anything but 'newsless,' passive, or uninterested in civic issues, according to a new comprehensive study of the information habits of people age 18-34. The research looks closely at how members of the Millennial generation learn about the world on different devices and platforms.

Study of veterans finds family support during deployment reduces suicidal thoughts Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:27 AM PDT Family support during deployment is an important protective factor against post-deployment suicidal ideation according to a new study. Suicidal ideation includes thoughts that can range from fleeting consideration of suicide to the development of a specific plan for killing oneself.

New remote control for molecular motors Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:25 AM PDT Magnetic molecules can be considered as nanoscale magnets. Remotely controlling the direction in which they rotate may intuitively be difficult to achieve. However, physicists have just demonstrated that it is theoretically possible to do so. They have shown that a change of direction in the circular polarization of an external magnetic field leads to a change in the direction of the mechanical rotation of the molecule.

New system for detecting adverse effects of medications using social media Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:25 AM PDT A new system for detecting adverse effects of pharmaceutical drugs tracks information generated by patients on specialized blogs or social networks such as Twitter in real time. The researchers explain that online health information searches are the third most popular activity in Google, with 170,000 searches performed every 5 seconds. "There is a lot of user-generated information these days, so social networks can be a valuable source of information on adverse effects of pharmaceutical drugs after the clinical trial stage is over and the drug is on the market."

Cancer researchers identify new function in an old acquaintance Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:25 AM PDT Cells have two different programs to safeguard them from developing cancer. One of them is senescence. It puts cancer cells into a permanent sleep. Now researchers have discovered that an enzyme known to be active in breast cancer blocks this protection program and boosts tumor growth. They succeeded in blocking this enzyme in mice with breast cancer, thus reactivating senescence and stopping tumor growth.

Depictions of race on TV news can influence perception of police Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:25 AM PDT Depictions of race on television news programs can strongly influence support for police among non-white viewers, research shows. "Black men and women -- particularly black men -- are over-represented as criminals or criminal suspects on TV news, and under-represented as law enforcement or authority figures, and as victims of crime," says the lead author of a paper on the research. "We wanted to see what affect these representations have on audiences of different races."

Groundbreaking approach to evaluate sleep disorders developed Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:25 AM PDT "We've developed a non-contact 'breathing sound analysis' algorithm that provides a reliable estimation of whole-night sleep evaluation for detection of sleep quality, snoring severity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea," researchers explain of their newly developed diagnostic approach. "It has the potential to reduce the cost and management of sleep disorders compared to PSG, the current standard of treatment, and could be used at home.'

Motor neurone disease: Researchers identify new group of gene suspects Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:25 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new host of gene variants that could make people vulnerable to sporadic motor neuron disease, according to a report. Motor neuron disease (MND) is a group of diseases in which the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord controlling the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow slowly degenerate and die.

Low vaccination rates likely fuel the 2015 measles outbreak, calculations show Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:19 AM PDT Inadequate vaccine coverage is likely a driving force behind the ongoing Disneyland measles outbreak, according to new calculations.

Memory and effects on the aging brain Posted: 16 Mar 2015 09:19 AM PDT A study of brain aging finds that being male was associated with worse memory and lower hippocampal volume in individuals who were cognitively normal at baseline, while the gene APOE ?4, a risk factor for Alzheimer disease, was not, according to a new article.

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