ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Orion's launch abort system motor exceeds expectations
• Chemists develop new way to make cost-effective material for electricity storage
• New tool aids US conservation, management of whales, dolphins and porpoises
• 'Systems-based' hematologist is new way to provide hematology expertise
• Pharmacist survey shows huge growth in compounded menopausal hormone therapy
• Self driving cars could free up rush hour traffic
• Turning yogurt waste into new products
• Chromosomal Rearrangement Is Key to Progress Against Aggressive Infant Leukemia
• Have a sense of purpose in life? It may protect your heart
• Multitasking hunger neurons also control compulsive behaviors
• Graphene meets heat waves
• New tool for detecting, destroying norovirus
• Parasite infection poses a greater risk for African under-fives
• Urine power to light camps in disaster zones
• NASA spacecraft becomes first to orbit a dwarf planet
• Male smokers at higher risk than females for osteoporosis, fractures
• Stuck-in-the-mud plankton reveal ancient temperatures
• Gut bacteria may contribute to diabetes in black males
• The price of protection: Abused women and earnings
• Fluid-filled pores separate materials with fine precision
• Ancient Mongol metallurgy an extreme polluter
• Female fish that avoid mating with related species also shun some of their own
• Calling your bluff: Supervisors easily sniff out what drives a worker
• How rain is dependent on soil moisture
• Novel mechanism to explain high elevation of Denver area
• Melting glaciers create noisiest places in ocean, study says
• Safer drug combination found for patients with high-risk atrial fibrillation
• Gut bacteria may decrease weight loss from bariatric surgery
• 'Habitable' planet GJ 581d previously dismissed as noise probably does exist
• Evolving to cope with climate change
• New flexible films for touch screen applications achieve longer lasting display
• Investigational osteoporosis drug, abaloparatide, lowers fracture risk
• High-normal thyroid hormone level in pregnancy may affect fetal brain development
• Onion extract may improve high blood sugar and cholesterol
• Letrozole is a promising new treatment of male infertility
• Sap-feeding butterflies join ranks of natural phenomenon, the Golden Ratio
• Workplace lifestyle intervention program improves health
• Oncologists see gene expression profiling tests as helpful but have concerns
• First validated method of detecting drugs of abuse in exhaled breath
• Microscopy directly images problematic lithium dendrites in batteries
• Black holes and dark sector explained by quantum gravity
• A new way to control information by mixing light and sound
• New study points to better classrooms for children with disabilities
• The global energy challenge: One billion people have no access to electricity
• Losing 30 minutes of sleep per day may promote weight gain and adversely affect blood sugar control
• Seniors' hospital and ER admission rates are higher if they have obesity
• Researchers create artificial methane hydrates, open an innovative pathway for use of new fuels
• Researchers connect climate change to food safety
• New findings on 'key players' in brain inflammation
• Karnak: Excavation yields 38 artifacts
• Mice don't need the cortex to sing their songs
• Moves to automate identification of Saimaa ringed seals
• Green lungs of our planet are changing
• Brain treats real and imaginary objects in the same way
• Infant growth affected by exposure to environmental pollutants
• Teenage TV audiences and energy drink advertisements
• Autism detection improved by multimodal neuroimaging
• Popular antioxidant likely ineffective, study finds

Orion's launch abort system motor exceeds expectations Posted: 06 Mar 2015 11:49 AM PST It took just three seconds for the attitude control motor of NASA's Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) to prove that its material can survive not only the intense temperatures, pressures, noise and vibrations experienced during a launch emergency but also 40 percent beyond. The LAS is being designed to bring a crew to safety should there be a problem in the launch pad or during ascent.

Chemists develop new way to make cost-effective material for electricity storage Posted: 06 Mar 2015 11:45 AM PST Researchers have found a new way to make state-of-the-art materials for energy storage using a cheap lamp from the hardware store.

New tool aids US conservation, management of whales, dolphins and porpoises Posted: 06 Mar 2015 10:27 AM PST Researchers have identified more than 100 areas within US waters that should be considered biologically important when making management and regulatory decisions about human activities that could affect whales, dolphins and porpoises.

'Systems-based' hematologist is new way to provide hematology expertise Posted: 06 Mar 2015 10:27 AM PST An innovative, sustainable new role for hematologists, particularly those specializing in non-malignant blood diseases, has been offered by experts for today's rapidly changing US health-care system.

Pharmacist survey shows huge growth in compounded menopausal hormone therapy Posted: 06 Mar 2015 10:27 AM PST Among prescriptions filled for menopausal hormone therapy in the US, almost half now are custom-compounded 'bioidentical' hormones, according to analysis of a recent survey of nearly 500 pharmacists.

Self driving cars could free up rush hour traffic Posted: 06 Mar 2015 10:26 AM PST With the growing popularity of care share programs, self-driving technology could be a game changer for urban traffic systems. A new study looks at how the Swedish capital's transport grid could be transformed. A fleet of shared self-driving cars in Stockholm could reduce rush hour traffic volumes by 14 cars for every shared vehicle, according to researchers.

Turning yogurt waste into new products Posted: 06 Mar 2015 10:25 AM PST With exploding consumer demand for Greek yogurt, production is up. That's great for food companies' bottom lines, but it also leaves them dealing with a lot more acid whey, a problematic byproduct of the Greek yogurt-making process. Scientists are developing a way to transform this trash into treasure.

Chromosomal Rearrangement Is Key to Progress Against Aggressive Infant Leukemia Posted: 06 Mar 2015 10:25 AM PST A highly aggressive form of leukemia in infants has surprisingly few mutations beyond the chromosomal rearrangement that affects the MLL gene, researchers have found. The findings suggest that targeting the alteration is likely the key to improved survival.

Have a sense of purpose in life? It may protect your heart Posted: 06 Mar 2015 10:25 AM PST Having a high sense of purpose in life may lower your risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a new study.

Multitasking hunger neurons also control compulsive behaviors Posted: 06 Mar 2015 08:20 AM PST In the absence of food, neurons that normally control appetite initiate complex, repetitive behaviors seen in obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anorexia nervosa, according to a new study.

Graphene meets heat waves Posted: 06 Mar 2015 08:20 AM PST Researchers have shed new light on the fundamental mechanisms of heat dissipation in graphene and other two-dimensional materials. They have shown that heat can propagate as a wave over very long distances. This is key information for engineering the electronics of tomorrow.

New tool for detecting, destroying norovirus Posted: 06 Mar 2015 08:20 AM PST Norovirus infection is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis, or 'stomach flu.' A research team recently produced 'nanobodies' that could be used to better characterize the structural makeup of the virus. They discovered that these nanobodies could detect the virus in clinical stool samples and disassemble intact norovirus particles. Such nanobodies may potentially be used to not only better detect but also treat symptoms of norovirus infection in the clinic.

Parasite infection poses a greater risk for African under-fives Posted: 06 Mar 2015 08:20 AM PST Children under five living in sub-Saharan Africa are at greater risk than older children of developing a long-term parasitic disease, research suggests.

Urine power to light camps in disaster zones Posted: 06 Mar 2015 08:19 AM PST A toilet, conveniently situated near the Student Union Bar at the University of the West of England, is proving that urine can generate electricity.

NASA spacecraft becomes first to orbit a dwarf planet Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:28 AM PST NASA's Dawn spacecraft has become the first mission to achieve orbit around a dwarf planet. The spacecraft was approximately 38,000 miles (61,000) kilometers from Ceres when it was captured by the dwarf planet's gravity at about 4:39 a.m. PST (7:39 a.m. EST) Friday.

Male smokers at higher risk than females for osteoporosis, fractures Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:27 AM PST In a large study of middle-aged to elderly smokers, men were more likely than women to have osteoporosis and fractures of their vertebrae. The findings suggest that current and past smokers of both genders should be screened for osteoporosis.

Stuck-in-the-mud plankton reveal ancient temperatures Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:27 AM PST New research showing how tiny creatures drifted across the ocean before falling to the seafloor and being fossilized has the potential to improve our understanding of past climates, scientists say.

Gut bacteria may contribute to diabetes in black males Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:27 AM PST African American men at elevated risk for developing type 2 diabetes may have fewer beneficial and more harmful intestinal bacteria, according to new research.

The price of protection: Abused women and earnings Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:27 AM PST 'Why doesn't she just leave?' is a timeworn question about women trapped in relationships that are physically and/or emotionally abusive to them. Economic dependence is clearly part of the story--many women lack the financial means to leave and find themselves trapped by both poverty and abuse.

Fluid-filled pores separate materials with fine precision Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:27 AM PST Scientists have developed an entirely new, highly versatile mechanism for controlling passage of materials through micropores, using fluid to modulate their opening and closing. The new system can separate a wide range of cargos and is extraordinarily precise due to the fact that the fluid-filled gate adjusts to accommodate filtration of each substance it encounters, even while processing a complex mixture of materials.

Ancient Mongol metallurgy an extreme polluter Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:27 AM PST The ancient Mongols have a reputation for having been fierce warriors. A new study shows them to have been unmatched polluters. Researchers found that lead pollution in Lake Erhai peaked at 119 micrograms per gram of sediment in 1300 AD before then declining to around 30 micrograms per gram in 1420 AD. Peak pollution levels are three to four times higher than those generated by modern metallurgical methods, authors say.

Female fish that avoid mating with related species also shun some of their own Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:27 AM PST A new study offers insight into a process that could lead one species to diverge into two, researchers report. The study found that female killifish that avoid mating with males of a closely related species also are less likely to mate with males of their own species -- if those males come from an unfamiliar population.

Calling your bluff: Supervisors easily sniff out what drives a worker Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:27 AM PST Good supervisors aren't easily duped by the motives of underlings who go the extra mile -- they know when an employee is sucking up to them because of personal ambition, or when such actions truly have what's best for the organization at heart.

How rain is dependent on soil moisture Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:27 AM PST It rains in summer most frequently when the ground holds a lot of moisture. However, precipitation is most likely to fall in regions where the soil is comparatively dry. This is the conclusion reached by researchers following an analysis of worldwide data. Their study contributes to a better understanding of soil moisture, a little explored climatic factor.

Novel mechanism to explain high elevation of Denver area Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:27 AM PST Researchers have proposed a new way to explain how the High Plains got so high. Water trapped deep below Earth's crust may have flooded the lower crust, creating buoyancy and lift.

Melting glaciers create noisiest places in ocean, study says Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:26 AM PST Researchers measure underwater noise in Alaskan and Antarctic fjords and find them to be the noisiest places in the ocean. This leads researchers to ask how animals such as whales and seals use the noise and what will happen to fjord ecosystems once the glaciers recede and the noise disappears.

Safer drug combination found for patients with high-risk atrial fibrillation Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:26 AM PST Use of a newer blood thinner significantly decreased the risk of strokes for patients with atrial fibrillation who require an anticoagulant and the heart rhythm medication amiodarone, a new study has found.

Gut bacteria may decrease weight loss from bariatric surgery Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:26 AM PST Some patients do not experience the optimal weight loss from bariatric surgery. The presence of a specific methane gas-producing organism in the gastrointestinal tract may account for a decrease in optimal weight loss, according to new research.

'Habitable' planet GJ 581d previously dismissed as noise probably does exist Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:26 AM PST A new report has dismissed claims made last year that the first super-Earth planet discovered in the habitable zone of a distant star was 'stellar activity masquerading as planets.' The researchers are confident the planet named GJ 581d, identified in 2009 orbiting the star Gliese 581, does exist, and that last year's claim was triggered by inadequate analysis of the data.

Evolving to cope with climate change Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:26 AM PST Researchers have successfully measured the potential of the Atlantic Silverside to adapt to ocean acidification. This is the first such measurement for a vertebrate animal.

New flexible films for touch screen applications achieve longer lasting display Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:25 AM PST Today, touch screens are everywhere, from smart phones and tablets, to computer monitors, to interactive digital signage and displays. Many touch screens are made of layered thin (billionths of a meter thick) films of indium-tin oxide, an inorganic material that is electrically conductive, which allows electrical signals to travel from the "touch" to the edges of the display, where they are sensed by the device--as well as optically transparent. But these and other inorganic materials have a downside, as anyone who has ever dropped their smart phone knows: they are brittle and shatter easily. The solution? Make the screens flexible and durable without sacrificing any of their electrical or optical properties. Researchers have now created thin sheets of hybrid materials that may enable the next generation of consumer electronics.

Investigational osteoporosis drug, abaloparatide, lowers fracture risk Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:25 AM PST Abaloparatide-SC, an injectable drug being studied for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, reduces the rate of new spinal fractures by a statistically significant 86 percent and as well as statistically significant reductions in the fracture rate at other parts of the body, a phase 3 clinical trial finds.

High-normal thyroid hormone level in pregnancy may affect fetal brain development Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:25 AM PST A new study finds that not only low but also high maternal thyroid hormone levels during early pregnancy may significantly lower the infant's IQ later in childhood. The study results suggest that the common practice of treating pregnant women who have mild thyroid hormone deficiency may pose unexpected risks to the developing baby's brain.

Onion extract may improve high blood sugar and cholesterol Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:25 AM PST The extract of onion bulb, Allium cepa, strongly lowered high blood glucose (sugar) and total cholesterol levels in diabetic rats when given with the antidiabetic drug metformin, according to a new study.

Letrozole is a promising new treatment of male infertility Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:25 AM PST A letrozole pill once a week restored fertility in obese, infertile men and led to their partners giving birth to two full-term, healthy babies, according to a new study from Canada.

Sap-feeding butterflies join ranks of natural phenomenon, the Golden Ratio Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:25 AM PST Researchers observed that the coiling action of the butterfly proboscis, a tube-like 'mouth' that many butterflies and moths use to feed on fluids, resembled a spiral similar to that of the Golden Ratio, and decided to investigate.

Workplace lifestyle intervention program improves health Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:25 AM PST A healthy lifestyle intervention program administered at the workplace significantly reduces risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, according to a new study.

Oncologists see gene expression profiling tests as helpful but have concerns Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:24 AM PST Oncologists praise gene expression profiling tests as a decision-making tool for women with early-stage breast cancer but also have significant reservations.

First validated method of detecting drugs of abuse in exhaled breath Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:24 AM PST Drug testing is most commonly performed using urine samples. The methodology and regulations for reliable urine testing are well developed and can be considered the current gold standard for drug testing. However, one problem with urine testing is related to the methodology of sample collection, often perceived as inconvenient and privacy-overriding by those undergoing the test. As such, a group of researchers has developed a more donor-friendly alternative to urine testing for drugs by focusing on exhaled breath.

Microscopy directly images problematic lithium dendrites in batteries Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:23 AM PST Scientists have captured the first real-time nanoscale images of lithium dendrite structures known to degrade lithium-ion batteries. Dendrites form when metallic lithium takes root on a battery's anode and begins growing haphazardly. If the dendrites grow too large, they can puncture the divider between the electrodes and short-circuit the cell, resulting in catastrophic battery failure.

Black holes and dark sector explained by quantum gravity Posted: 06 Mar 2015 06:16 AM PST A quantum version of General Relativity demonstrates that dark energy and dark matter are different manifestations of gravity. The theory calculates the precise value of the cosmological constant, derives the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation, gives a quantum description of Black Holes and calculates the baryonic mass content of the observable universe.

A new way to control information by mixing light and sound Posted: 06 Mar 2015 06:16 AM PST For once, slower is better in a new piece of technology. Scientists have developed a new, radio frequency processing device that allows information to be controlled more effectively, opening the door to a new generation of signal processing on microchips. One of the keys to the technology involves slowing information down.

New study points to better classrooms for children with disabilities Posted: 06 Mar 2015 06:16 AM PST A pilot study in 51 North Carolina classrooms shows the effectiveness of a new measure in assessing the quality of practices in inclusive preschools. Not only is the Inclusive Classroom Profile a reliable instrument, researchers say it also reveals the types of inclusive settings that may be best serving preschoolers with disabilities, researchers say.

The global energy challenge: One billion people have no access to electricity Posted: 06 Mar 2015 05:26 AM PST More than one billion people world-wide have no access to electricity to cook food or light their homes, despite the technology being in place. A study on options for getting more electrical access has taken place in Bangladesh.

Losing 30 minutes of sleep per day may promote weight gain and adversely affect blood sugar control Posted: 06 Mar 2015 05:25 AM PST Losing as little as 30 minutes of sleep per day on weekdays can have long-term consequences for body weight and metabolism, a new study finds.

Seniors' hospital and ER admission rates are higher if they have obesity Posted: 06 Mar 2015 05:25 AM PST Obesity is associated with substantial increases in older adults' hospitalizations, emergency room admissions and use of outpatient health care services, according to a new study of 172,866 Medicare Advantage members throughout the U.S.

Researchers create artificial methane hydrates, open an innovative pathway for use of new fuels Posted: 06 Mar 2015 04:38 AM PST A technology that allows the preparation of artificial methane hydrates has been developed by researchers. These researchers have demonstrated that it is possible to prepare methane hydrates in a laboratory by imitating, and even enhancing, natural processes through the use of activated carbon materials as nano-reactors. One of the keys of this research was that scientists were able to reduce the process to form methane hydrates, which takes a long time in nature, to just a few minutes, thus making its technological applicability much easier.

Researchers connect climate change to food safety Posted: 06 Mar 2015 04:38 AM PST Climate change can affect our food safety in a number of ways. In a European study, researchers state that there is often a relationship between long-term changes in temperature and rainfall and vegetable and fruit contamination. For example, flooding may result in increased concentrations of harmful bacteria that can be quickly broken down again by UV light. Similarly, in one region fungi that produce toxins may increase due to global warming, while they decrease in other regions.

New findings on 'key players' in brain inflammation Posted: 06 Mar 2015 04:38 AM PST Inflammatory processes occur in the brain in conjunction with stroke and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Researchers have presented new findings about some of the 'key players' in inflammation. In the long term, these findings could lead to new treatments.

Karnak: Excavation yields 38 artifacts Posted: 06 Mar 2015 04:38 AM PST The excavation of a favissa, a pit discovered in early December 2014 near the temple of the god Ptah, has been completed. The dig has unearthed 38 statues, statuettes and precious objects, making this an exceptional find, both for the quantity and quality of the religious artifacts brought to light. Furthermore, a completely new recording method was used during the dig that makes it possible to virtually reconstruct each step of the discovery with millimeter accuracy.

Mice don't need the cortex to sing their songs Posted: 06 Mar 2015 04:37 AM PST The human language is unique in that we can refer to objects, events and ideas. The combination of syllables and words enables humans to generate an infinite number of expressions. An important prerequisite for language is the ability to imitate sounds, i.e. to store acquired acoustic information and to use this for one's own vocal production. Cortical structures in the brain play a crucial role in this. While songbirds and certain marine mammals are capable of such vocal learning, there is very little evidence for vocal learning in terrestrial mammals -- not even in our closest living relatives, the chimpanzees. Nonhuman primate vocal production is largely restricted to an innate repertoire of sounds.

Moves to automate identification of Saimaa ringed seals Posted: 06 Mar 2015 04:37 AM PST Moves are being made to automate the identification of Saimaa ringed seals. This would bring new kinds of real-time information on how the extremely endangered species behaves, the movements of individual seals, and what happens to them. The final aim of an ongoing study on machine vision is to get a biometric passport for each individual Saimaa ringed seal. This happens on the basis of the unique fur patterns of each individual seal, using computer-based smart calculation and digital image processing. The aim is to store the information in a so-called Saimaa ringed seal database.

Green lungs of our planet are changing Posted: 06 Mar 2015 04:37 AM PST Are leaves and buds developing earlier in the spring? And do leaves stay on the trees longer in autumn? Do steppe ecosystems remain green longer and are the savannas becoming drier and drier? In fact, over recent decades, the growing seasons have changed everywhere around the world, according to research based on satellite data. The results are expected to have consequences for agriculture, interactions between species, the functioning of ecosystems, and the exchange of carbon dioxide and energy between the land surface and the atmosphere.

Brain treats real and imaginary objects in the same way Posted: 06 Mar 2015 04:37 AM PST The human brain can select relevant objects from a flood of information and edit out what is irrelevant. It also knows which parts belong to a whole. If, for example, we direct our attention to the doors of a house, the brain will preferentially process its windows, but not the neighbouring houses. Psychologists have now discovered that this also happens when parts of the objects are merely maintained in our memory.

Infant growth affected by exposure to environmental pollutants Posted: 06 Mar 2015 04:37 AM PST Even though the levels of two environmental pollutants have declined over the last 20 years, they may still have adverse effects on children's development, according to a new study. The researchers found that maternal levels of DDE (indicating the levels to which the fetuses were exposed to in utero) were significantly associated with rapid growth in early life. They also found that levels of PCB153 in milk and the amount transferred through breastfeeding were associated with decreased infant growth and falling below expected growth curves.

Teenage TV audiences and energy drink advertisements Posted: 06 Mar 2015 04:36 AM PST Researchers have examined a database of television advertisements broadcast between March 2012 and February 2013 on 139 network and cable channels and found that more than 608 hours of advertisements for energy drinks were aired. Nearly half of those advertisements, 46.5%, appeared on networks with content themes likely to appeal to adolescents.

Autism detection improved by multimodal neuroimaging Posted: 06 Mar 2015 04:36 AM PST Combined measurements of brain anatomy, connectivity and neurochemistry distinguish autism spectrum disorder subjects from controls, scientists say. This multimodal approach is distinct from many previous studies that have used a single neuroimaging measure. While those studies uncovered widespread functional and anatomical brain abnormalities in ASD, the results were not highly consistent, possibly reflecting the complex brain pathology in autism spectrum disorders.

Popular antioxidant likely ineffective, study finds Posted: 06 Mar 2015 04:36 AM PST The popular dietary supplement ubiquinone, also known as Coenzyme Q10, is widely believed to function as an antioxidant, protecting cells against damage from free radicals. But a new study finds that ubiquinone is not a crucial antioxidant.

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