ScienceDaily: Top News

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• An 'octopus' robot with eight limbs developed to clear rubble in Fukushima, Japan
• Intelligent computers solving the trust equation in difficult negotiations
• 'Green' batteries made to last: Oxide/carbon composite outperforms expensive platinum composites
• Uncovering a reaction's secrets
• Massive amounts of fresh water, glacial melt pouring into Gulf of Alaska
• High temp superconductivity: You can't play checkers with charge ordering
• Schools using out-of-school suspension drug policy show increased likelihood of marijuana use
• Prehistoric stone tools bear 500,000-year-old animal residue
• Men's preference for certain body types has evolutionary roots
• Comet probe detects 'most wanted molecule': Nitrogen gas
• Milky Way's center unveils supernova 'dust factory'
• Sharper nanoscopy: What happens when a quantum dot looks in a mirror?
• Altering brain chemistry makes us more sensitive to inequality
• Geoengineering proposal may backfire: Ocean pipes 'not cool,' would end up warming climate
• Future robotics: Think self-fixing bridges; shoes that optimize for walking, running; camouflaging cars
• Microscope technique reveals for first time when and where proteins are made
• Scientists decipher the spectrum of CH5+ for the first time
• World's most iconic ecosystems: World heritage sites risk collapse without stronger local management
• New lead against HIV could finally hobble the virus's edge
• Scientists pinpoint molecule that controls stem cell plasticity by boosting gene expression
• Scientists invent new way to control light, critical for next gen of super fast computing
• Using tablets to screen new, expecting moms for perinatal depression
• Kindergarten and crime: Students who started school later more likely to drop out, commit crimes
• Small talk with big potential: Bacterial conversation counteracts antibiotic damage
• First stem cell-based approach to treat type 2 diabetes effective in mice
• Color-morphing reef fish is a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’
• Vitamin D prevents diabetes and clogged arteries in mice
• Topical TXA in total joint replacement lowers blood transfusion use
• Effect of smoking, alcohol on feeding tube duration in head/neck cancer patients
• Racial, ethnic differences in picking surgeons, hospitals for breast cancer care
• Three million egg-laying hens killed each year: Redundant egg layers can become food
• Citizen scientists discover new plant species in the Cape Floral Kingdom
• 'Nanofiber gusher' created
• World-first cancer drugs could work in larger group of patients
• Click! That's how modern chemistry bonds nanoparticles to a substrate
• Hidden benefits of electric vehicles revealed
• Medical expansion has led people worldwide to feel less healthy
• How does weight stigma smell? Sense of smell may reveal weight bias
• Insuring undocumented residents could help solve multiple US health care challenges
• Quantum computing: One step closer with defect-free logic gate
• Regulatory network in the kidney uncovered
• Researchers tweak the immune system to target cells bearing tumor antigens
• Trust increases with age; benefits well-being
• Quantum dots 'breathe' in response to stress
• MESSENGER's endgame: Hover campaign promises bird's-eye view of Mercury's surface
• Stem cells help researchers peg rabies resistance
• The cost of dominance: Aggressively pursuing higher social status may exact a toll on health
• Targeted drug doubles progression free survival in Hodgkin lymphoma
• Dramatic rise expected in adults living with cystic fibrosis
• Melatonin can help you get a good night's sleep in a noisy environment
• Excessive vitamin intake in pregnant rats impacts food choices in offspring
• New tobacco atlas details scale, harms of tobacco epidemic
• Fast-food ban in L.A. fails to improve diets or cut obesity, study finds
• Tackling poor oral health in children around the globe
• Live donor liver transplantation found safe, effective for acute liver failure
• Crocodile ancestor was top predator before dinosaurs roamed North America
• Scientists uncover predictors of chronic kidney disease worsening in children, adolescents
• Human parasites found in medieval cesspit reveal links between Middle East and Europe
• Text message reminders boost breast cancer screening attendance
• Impact of parents' military deployment on children’s safety and mental health

An 'octopus' robot with eight limbs developed to clear rubble in Fukushima, Japan Posted: 19 Mar 2015 04:31 PM PDT Researchers in Japan have jointly developed a robot with four arms and four crawlers which can perform multiple tasks simultaneously to help clean up the rubble left after the 2011 quake-tsunami disasters in Minamisoma, Fukushima.

Intelligent computers solving the trust equation in difficult negotiations Posted: 19 Mar 2015 04:31 PM PDT Socially intelligent computers can turn difficult online negotiations into win?win situations through tactical information disclosure.

'Green' batteries made to last: Oxide/carbon composite outperforms expensive platinum composites Posted: 19 Mar 2015 04:31 PM PDT An oxide/carbon composite outperforms expensive platinum composites in oxygen chemical reactions for green energy devices. Electrochemical devices are crucial to a green energy revolution in which clean alternatives replace carbon-based fuels. This revolution requires conversion systems that produce hydrogen from water or rechargeable batteries that can store clean energy in cars. Now, Singapore-based researchers have developed improved catalysts as electrodes for efficient and more durable green energy devices.

Uncovering a reaction's secrets Posted: 19 Mar 2015 04:31 PM PDT A theoretical and experimental study could lead to improved catalysts for producing hydrogen fuel from waste biomass.

Massive amounts of fresh water, glacial melt pouring into Gulf of Alaska Posted: 19 Mar 2015 01:55 PM PDT Incessant mountain rain, snow and melting glaciers in a comparatively small region of land that hugs the southern Alaska coast and empties fresh water into the Gulf of Alaska would create the sixth largest coastal river in the world if it emerged as a single stream, a recent study shows. Freshwater runoff of this magnitude may play important ecological roles.

High temp superconductivity: You can't play checkers with charge ordering Posted: 19 Mar 2015 01:55 PM PDT Physicists have observed the shape of a strange phenomenon that interferes with high-temperature superconductivity called charge ordering, discovering that it is stripy, not checkered, and settling a long-standing debate in the field.

Schools using out-of-school suspension drug policy show increased likelihood of marijuana use Posted: 19 Mar 2015 01:53 PM PDT Schools where administrators report using out-of-school suspension to enforce drug policy and where students report low policy enforcement, regardless of the type of drug policy adopted, show an increased likelihood of marijuana use, according to new research. Schools that used abstinence-based prevention and those that counseled students about the dangers of marijuana use showed a lower likelihood of marijuana use.

Prehistoric stone tools bear 500,000-year-old animal residue Posted: 19 Mar 2015 12:07 PM PDT Among 500,000-year-old elephant remains at a Lower Paleolithic site in Revadim, Israel, archaeologists recently analyzed 'hand axes' and 'scrapers,' universally shaped and sized prehistoric stone tools, replete with animal residue. The research represents the first scientifically verified direct evidence for the precise use of Paleolithic stone tools: to process animal carcasses and hides.

Men's preference for certain body types has evolutionary roots Posted: 19 Mar 2015 12:07 PM PDT Prehistoric and evolutionary influences appear to shape men's expressed preference for women with a curvy backside.

Comet probe detects 'most wanted molecule': Nitrogen gas Posted: 19 Mar 2015 12:06 PM PDT ESA's comet probe Rosetta has for the first time ever measured nitrogen gas at a comet, providing clues to the early stages of the formation of our solar system.

Milky Way's center unveils supernova 'dust factory' Posted: 19 Mar 2015 11:34 AM PDT Sifting through the center of the Milky Way galaxy, astronomers have made the first direct observations -- using an infrared telescope aboard a modified Boeing 747 -- of cosmic building-block dust resulting from an ancient supernova.

Sharper nanoscopy: What happens when a quantum dot looks in a mirror? Posted: 19 Mar 2015 11:34 AM PDT The advent of super-resolved microscopy with visible light won this year's chemistry Nobel. Scientists have now discovered how to make nanoscale images even sharper.

Altering brain chemistry makes us more sensitive to inequality Posted: 19 Mar 2015 11:34 AM PDT What if there were a pill that made you more compassionate? A new study finds that giving a drug that changes the neurochemical balance in the brain causes a greater willingness to engage in prosocial behaviors, such as ensuring that resources are divided more equally.

Geoengineering proposal may backfire: Ocean pipes 'not cool,' would end up warming climate Posted: 19 Mar 2015 11:33 AM PDT There are a variety of proposals that involve using vertical ocean pipes to move seawater to the surface from the depths in order to reap different potential climate benefits. One idea involves using ocean pipes to facilitate direct physical cooling of the surface ocean by replacing warm surface ocean waters with colder, deeper waters. New research shows that these pipes could actually increase global warming quite drastically.

Future robotics: Think self-fixing bridges; shoes that optimize for walking, running; camouflaging cars Posted: 19 Mar 2015 11:33 AM PDT Advances in materials science, distributed algorithms and manufacturing processes are revolutionizing robotic materials. Prosthetics with a realistic sense of touch. Bridges that detect and repair their own damage. Vehicles with camouflaging capabilities. Advances in materials science, distributed algorithms and manufacturing processes are bringing all of these things closer to reality every day.

Microscope technique reveals for first time when and where proteins are made Posted: 19 Mar 2015 11:33 AM PDT Scientists have developed a fluorescence microscopy technique that for the first time shows where and when proteins are produced. This allows researchers to directly observe individual mRNAs as they are translated into proteins in living cells. It should help reveal how irregularities in protein synthesis contribute to human disease processes, including Alzheimer's disease and other memory-related disorders.

Scientists decipher the spectrum of CH5+ for the first time Posted: 19 Mar 2015 11:33 AM PDT For the first time ever, scientist have succeeded in understanding the spectrum of the highly fluxional molecule CH5+. This insight was made possible by the extreme cooling of this enigmatic molecule and a highly accurate measurement of its vibrational transitions.

World's most iconic ecosystems: World heritage sites risk collapse without stronger local management Posted: 19 Mar 2015 11:33 AM PDT Without better local management, the world's most iconic ecosystems are at risk of collapse under climate change, say researchers. Protecting places of global environmental importance such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Amazon rainforest from climate change will require reducing the other pressures they face, for example overfishing, fertilizer pollution or land clearing.

New lead against HIV could finally hobble the virus's edge Posted: 19 Mar 2015 11:33 AM PDT Since HIV emerged in the '80s, drug 'cocktails' transformed the deadly disease into a manageable one. But the virus is adept at developing resistance to drugs, and treatment regimens require tweaking that can be costly. Now scientists are announcing new progress toward affordable drugs that could potentially thwart the virus's ability to resist them.

Scientists pinpoint molecule that controls stem cell plasticity by boosting gene expression Posted: 19 Mar 2015 11:32 AM PDT Stem cells can have a strong sense of identity. Taken out of their home in the hair follicle, for example, and grown in culture, these cells remain true to themselves. After waiting in limbo, these cultured cells become capable of regenerating follicles and other skin structures once transplanted back into skin. It's not clear just how these stem cells -- and others elsewhere in the body -- retain their ability to produce new tissue and heal wounds, even under extraordinary conditions.

Scientists invent new way to control light, critical for next gen of super fast computing Posted: 19 Mar 2015 10:10 AM PDT A device resembling a plastic honeycomb yet infinitely smaller than a bee's stinger can steer light beams around tighter curves than ever before possible, while keeping the integrity and intensity of the beam intact.

Using tablets to screen new, expecting moms for perinatal depression Posted: 19 Mar 2015 09:42 AM PDT University of Illinois social work researcher is collaborating with Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to administer perinatal depression screenings to low-income women.

Kindergarten and crime: Students who started school later more likely to drop out, commit crimes Posted: 19 Mar 2015 09:42 AM PDT Children who are older when they start kindergarten do well in the short term, academically and socially. But as teenagers, these old-for-grade students are more likely to drop out and commit serious crimes, says new research. The negative outcomes are significantly more likely for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Small talk with big potential: Bacterial conversation counteracts antibiotic damage Posted: 19 Mar 2015 09:40 AM PDT Scientists have shown that bacteria living in the intestine both 'talk' and 'listen' to each other. Using small molecules in place of words, these microbial conversations changed the numbers of certain species of bacteria in the gut and started to restore the huge damage caused by lasting antibiotic treatment.

First stem cell-based approach to treat type 2 diabetes effective in mice Posted: 19 Mar 2015 09:40 AM PDT A combination of human stem cell transplantation and antidiabetic drugs proved to be highly effective at improving body weight and glucose metabolism in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes. The findings could set the stage for clinical trials to test the first stem cell-based approach for insulin replacement in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Color-morphing reef fish is a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ Posted: 19 Mar 2015 09:38 AM PDT A new study has shown that the dottyback, a small predatory reef fish, can change the color of its body to imitate a variety of other reef fish species, allowing the dottyback to sneak up undetected and eat their young.

Vitamin D prevents diabetes and clogged arteries in mice Posted: 19 Mar 2015 09:36 AM PDT Vitamin D deficiency is linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and both disorders are rooted in chronic inflammation. Now, studying mice that lack the ability to process vitamin D in immune cells involved in inflammation, researchers found that the animals made excess glucose, became resistant to insulin action and accumulated plaques in their blood vessels. They said the way those key immune cells behave without vitamin D may provide new targets for treating diabetes and atherosclerosis patients.

Topical TXA in total joint replacement lowers blood transfusion use Posted: 19 Mar 2015 08:30 AM PDT Orthopedic surgeons have conducted a cost-benefit analysis of topical tranexamic acid in primary total hip and knee arthroplasty patients that revealed a 12 percent transfusion rate reduction -- from 17.5 percent to 5.5 percent -- with no significant difference in complication rates.

Effect of smoking, alcohol on feeding tube duration in head/neck cancer patients Posted: 19 Mar 2015 08:30 AM PDT Current smoking and heavy alcohol consumption appear to be risk factors for prolonged use of a feeding tube in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, according to a new report.

Racial, ethnic differences in picking surgeons, hospitals for breast cancer care Posted: 19 Mar 2015 08:30 AM PDT Black and Hispanic women with breast cancer were less likely to pick their surgeon and the hospital for treatment based on reputation compared with white women, suggesting minority patients may rely more on physician referrals and health plans in those decisions, according to a new study.

Three million egg-laying hens killed each year: Redundant egg layers can become food Posted: 19 Mar 2015 08:28 AM PDT Three million egg-laying hens are destroyed each year. Researchers believe that this practice is inadequately sustainable and want to see the hens exploited for food, oils and proteins.

Citizen scientists discover new plant species in the Cape Floral Kingdom Posted: 19 Mar 2015 07:54 AM PDT Amateur botanists in the Western Cape Province of South Africa have discovered two new species of beautiful blue-flowered legumes.

'Nanofiber gusher' created Posted: 19 Mar 2015 07:54 AM PDT Researchers report a method that can produce unprecedented amounts of polymer nanofibers in liquid, which have potential applications in filtration, batteries and cell scaffolding.

World-first cancer drugs could work in larger group of patients Posted: 19 Mar 2015 07:53 AM PDT A pioneering class of drugs that target cancers with mutations in the BRCA breast cancer genes could also work against tumors with another type of genetic fault, a new study suggests. Scientists found that errors in a gene called CLBC leave cancer cells vulnerable to PARP inhibitor drugs. Around 2 percent of all tumors have defects in CLBC.

Click! That's how modern chemistry bonds nanoparticles to a substrate Posted: 19 Mar 2015 07:53 AM PDT Nanoparticles of various types can be quickly and permanently bonded to a solid substrate, if one of the most effective methods of synthesis, click chemistry, is used for this purpose.

Hidden benefits of electric vehicles revealed Posted: 19 Mar 2015 07:53 AM PDT Electric vehicles are cool, research shows. Literally. A new study adds more fuel to the already hot debate about whether electric vehicles are more environmentally friendly than conventional vehicles by uncovering two hidden benefits.

Medical expansion has led people worldwide to feel less healthy Posted: 19 Mar 2015 07:42 AM PDT Across much of the Western world, 25 years of expansion of the medical system has actually led to people feeling less healthy over time, a new study has found.

How does weight stigma smell? Sense of smell may reveal weight bias Posted: 19 Mar 2015 06:22 AM PDT Could our reaction to an image of an overweight or obese person affect how we perceive odor? A trio of researchers says yes. The researchers discovered that visual cues associated with overweight or obese people can influence one's sense of smell, and that the perceiver's body mass index matters, too. Participants with higher BMI tended to be more critical of heavier people, with higher-BMI participants giving scents a lower rating when scent samples were matched with an obese or overweight individual.

Insuring undocumented residents could help solve multiple US health care challenges Posted: 19 Mar 2015 06:22 AM PDT An extensive review of published scientific research on Latino health care identifies four problem areas related to health care delivery to Latinos under the Affordable Care Act.

Quantum computing: One step closer with defect-free logic gate Posted: 19 Mar 2015 06:22 AM PDT What does hair styling have in common with quantum computing? The braiding pattern has inspired scientists as a potential new approach to quantum calculation. But due to their tight assembly, such braids are much more difficult to destabilize and less error-prone. Yet, local defects can still arise along nanowires. A new study identifies potential sources of computer errors arising from these defects.

Regulatory network in the kidney uncovered Posted: 19 Mar 2015 06:22 AM PDT The kidney continuously filters the blood and excretes waste products into the urine. This is achieved by a complex system of tubules which transports the urine and regulates its composition. Researchers have now discovered a novel molecular signaling pathway and show how parts of these kidney tubules establish an inner space and form a tight barrier against adjacent structures.

Researchers tweak the immune system to target cells bearing tumor antigens Posted: 19 Mar 2015 06:22 AM PDT Researchers have succeeded in generating cells of the immune system to specifically target and destroy cancer cells. The immune system of the body is trained to distinguish between "foreign" and "self" and to recognize and destroy exogenous structures. In cancer, however, the immune system appears to be quite docile in its response. While it is capable of detecting cancer cells because they often bear characteristics (antigens) on their surfaces that identify them as pathologically altered cells, usually the immune system does not mount an attack but rather tolerates them.

Trust increases with age; benefits well-being Posted: 19 Mar 2015 06:22 AM PDT Hollywood has given moviegoers many classic portrayals of grumpy old men. But new research suggests that getting older doesn't necessarily make people cynical and suspicious. Instead, trust tends to increase as people age, a development that can be beneficial for well-being, according to two new large-scale studies.

Quantum dots 'breathe' in response to stress Posted: 19 Mar 2015 06:19 AM PDT Researchers have watched nanoscale semiconductor crystals expand and shrink in response to powerful pulses of laser light. This ultrafast "breathing" provides new insight about how such tiny structures change shape as they start to melt -- information that can help guide researchers in tailoring their use for a range of applications.

MESSENGER's endgame: Hover campaign promises bird's-eye view of Mercury's surface Posted: 19 Mar 2015 06:19 AM PDT MESSENGER will not go gentle into that good night. The mission will end sometime this spring, when the spacecraft runs out of propellant and the force of solar gravity causes it to impact the surface of Mercury. But the team initiated a "hover" observation campaign designed to gather scientific data from the planet at ultra-low altitudes until the last possible moment. Engineers have devised a series of orbit-correction maneuvers (OCMs) over the next five weeks -- the first of which was carried out today -- designed to delay the inevitable impact a bit longer.

Stem cells help researchers peg rabies resistance Posted: 19 Mar 2015 06:19 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new technology to determine sensitivity or resistance to rabies virus.

The cost of dominance: Aggressively pursuing higher social status may exact a toll on health Posted: 19 Mar 2015 06:19 AM PDT Researchers conducted four studies to gauge the health effects of the hostile-dominant personality style compared with the warm-dominant style. Their findings are bad news for aggressive power-seekers.

Targeted drug doubles progression free survival in Hodgkin lymphoma Posted: 19 Mar 2015 05:04 AM PDT A phase 3 trial of brentuximab vedotin (BV), the first new drug for Hodgkin lymphoma in over 30 years, shows that adults with hard-to-treat Hodgkin lymphoma given BV immediately after stem cell transplant survived without the disease progressing for twice as long as those given placebo -- 43 months vs 24 months.

Dramatic rise expected in adults living with cystic fibrosis Posted: 19 Mar 2015 05:04 AM PDT The number of people living with cystic fibrosis into adulthood is expected to increase dramatically by 2025, prompting calls for the development of adult cystic fibrosis services to meet the demand. People living with cystic fibrosis have previously had low life expectancy, but improvements in treatments and care in the last three decades have led to an increase in survival with almost all children now living to around 40 years.

Melatonin can help you get a good night's sleep in a noisy environment Posted: 19 Mar 2015 05:04 AM PDT Using melatonin could provide more and better quality sleep compared to using an eye mask and earplugs in a simulated noisy and illuminated environment, according to research. This study was carried out on healthy subjects but could have future implications for intensive care unit patients.

Excessive vitamin intake in pregnant rats impacts food choices in offspring Posted: 19 Mar 2015 05:04 AM PDT A rat model has been used to see how maternal intake of above-requirement vitamins (A, D, E, and K) impact offspring's brain development and behavior. During pregnancy many women consume better quality diets, but are also likely to use vitamin supplements, which combined may exceed vitamin intake requirements, authors warn.

New tobacco atlas details scale, harms of tobacco epidemic Posted: 19 Mar 2015 05:03 AM PDT The fifth edition of the Cancer Atlas graphically details the scale of the tobacco epidemic; the harmful influence of tobacco on health, poverty, social justice, and the environment; the progress being made in tobacco control; and the latest products and tactics being used by the industry to protect its profits and delay and derail tobacco control

Fast-food ban in L.A. fails to improve diets or cut obesity, study finds Posted: 19 Mar 2015 05:03 AM PDT In 2008, the city of Los Angeles passed a law restricting the opening or expansion of any 'stand-alone fast-food restaurant' in low-income neighborhoods where obesity was a problem. A new study finds the measure has failed to reduce fast-food consumption or reduce obesity rates in the targeted neighborhoods.

Tackling poor oral health in children around the globe Posted: 19 Mar 2015 05:03 AM PDT A new research project has established an effective model for the fight against the escalating burden of tooth decay among children in Asia. The model is an important tool in breaking the social inequity in oral health of children.

Live donor liver transplantation found safe, effective for acute liver failure Posted: 19 Mar 2015 05:03 AM PDT When patients develop acute liver failure, severe complications arise rapidly after the first signs of liver disease, and patients' health can deteriorate rapidly. New research indicates that emergency evaluations of living liver donors can be conducted safely to allow acute liver failure patients to undergo transplantation before their condition worsens.

Crocodile ancestor was top predator before dinosaurs roamed North America Posted: 19 Mar 2015 05:03 AM PDT A newly discovered crocodilian ancestor may have filled one of North America's top predator roles before dinosaurs arrived on the continent. Carnufex carolinensis, or the 'Carolina Butcher,' was a nine-foot long, land-dwelling crocodylomorph that walked on its hind legs and likely preyed upon smaller inhabitants of North Carolina ecosystems such as armored reptiles and early mammal relatives.

Scientists uncover predictors of chronic kidney disease worsening in children, adolescents Posted: 19 Mar 2015 05:03 AM PDT New insights into why a child's chronic kidney disease (CKD) may worsen to kidney failure have been uncovered through a new study. Among nearly 500 children and adolescents with mild to moderate CKD, researchers identified factors, such as high blood pressure, protein loss from the kidneys, and anemia, that predicted disease worsening but that could be treated to ideally change the course of the disease.

Human parasites found in medieval cesspit reveal links between Middle East and Europe Posted: 19 Mar 2015 05:01 AM PDT Analysis of a latrine in Jerusalem that dates back over 500 years finds human parasites common in northern Europe yet very rare in Middle East at the time, suggesting long-distance trade or pilgrimage routes and shedding light on prevalent infectious diseases of the age.

Text message reminders boost breast cancer screening attendance Posted: 19 Mar 2015 05:01 AM PDT Women who received a text message reminding them about their breast cancer screening appointment were 20 per cent more likely to attend than those who were not texted, according to a study. "Our research found that a cheap, simple text-message-reminder could boost the number of women -- especially those from deprived areas -- attending screening, or cancelling in advance," authors said.

Impact of parents' military deployment on children’s safety and mental health Posted: 19 Mar 2015 05:01 AM PDT Following military parents' return from combat deployment, children show increased visits for mental healthcare, physical injury, and child maltreatment consults, compared to children whose parents have not been deployed, a study concludes. The same types of healthcare visits were also found to be significantly higher for children of combat-injured parents.

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