ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Martian glass: Window into possible past life
• Making organic molecules in hydrothermal vents in the absence of life
• Exoplanets: Atmospheric signs of volcanic activity could aid search for life
• Evolution is unpredictable and irreversible, biologists show
• Chimpanzees may know when they are right and move to prove it
• Researchers analyze the structure of bird feathers to create hues without dye
• New study sheds light on life satisfaction, mortality risk in older adults
• Crows count on 'number neurons'
• Boosting gut bacteria defense system may lead to better treatments for bloodstream infections
• Researchers identify new genetic cause of arrhythmia and develop therapy
• Yin and yang: Immune signaling protein has opposing roles in breast cancer development
• Scientists show antitumor agent can be activated by natural response to cell stress
• Navigating multiple myeloma with 'Google Maps' for the cancer genome
• Loon chicks grow fast, fledge early to give parents a break
• Children with TBI have poorer sleep quality, more daytime sleepiness
• Antibiotic use can be cut dramatically for abdominal infections, major trial shows
• Ultrafast heat conduction can manipulate nanoscale magnets
• Most detailed view ever of star formation in distant universe
• Nanomaterial self-assembly imaged in real time
• Tool can accurately predict risk of death within on year after admission to hospital
• Technology offers a bird’s-eye view on how foreclosure affects the landscape
• Disrupting tumor cell 'microenvironment' suggests a new way to treat a prevalent childhood leukemia
• Recognizing reliable clinical data is vital as public reporting increases
• Scientists shed light on the motivations of healthy people seeking personal genome sequencing
• Researchers boost body's inflammation-reduction mechanism to combat obesity-fueled disease
• Study links lower life satisfaction to sleep problems during midlife
• Study links severe restless legs syndrome to increased risk of stroke
• Using Minecraft to unboggle the robot mind
• Study examines psychotropic medication use in children, teens with Down syndrome
• Crossing a critical threshold in optical communications
• Novel laboratory works to improve population health and prepare transformational leaders
• How your brain is telling you to vote
• Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder may share genetic roots with creativity
• Injectable electronics: New system holds promise for basic neuroscience, treatment of neuro-degenerative diseases
• Researchers expose how 'James Bond' cells are made
• Study examines association between cholesterol-lowering drugs, memory impairment
• Certain preoperative tests still common in US despite low value and high costs
• Flash flood risks increase as storm peak downpours intensify
• Virus evolution and human behavior shape global patterns of flu movement
• Weathering, river discharge surprisingly constant during Ice Age cycles
• Don't complain: Train young adult slackers who work in your office
• Tiny particles, big impact? Researchers investigating how ingesting nanoparticles may influence health
• Study supports early intervention for prostate cancer patients who experience significant emotional distress
• Whole genome sequencing found to rapidly enhance infection control
• Breast cancer study raises hope of therapy to stop tumor spread
• Psychology researchers report a major discovery of harmony amid chaos
• Lean despite many calories
• New composite material as carbon dioxide sensor
• Researchers develop models for targeted cancer therapy
• Researchers use prehistoric amber to test glass theory
• Data scientists find connections between birth month and health
• Futuristic components on silicon chips, fabricated successfully
• Asian economic integration means huge challenges for trees, farmers and food supply
• New microscope technique could speed identification of deadly bacteria
• Getting to the heart of the matter: CERN's hidden heritage
• New approach for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• Recovery of sensory function by stem cell transplants
• California Academy of Sciences discovers 100 new species in the Philippines
• What do walnuts smell like? Using aroma to control pests
• Why crystals could be the shape of future pharmaceuticals

Martian glass: Window into possible past life Posted: 08 Jun 2015 06:32 PM PDT Researchers have found large deposits of glass formed by impactors on the surface of Mars. On Earth, impact glasses have been shown to sometimes preserve signatures of ancient life. That makes these deposits potentially interesting places to look for signs of past life on the Red Planet.

Making organic molecules in hydrothermal vents in the absence of life Posted: 08 Jun 2015 06:31 PM PDT For more than a decade, the scientific community has postulated that methane could be spontaneously produced by chemical reactions between hydrogen from hydrothermal vent fluid and carbon dioxide. New research is the first to show that methane formation does not occur during the relatively quick fluid circulation process, despite extraordinarily high hydrogen contents in the waters.

Exoplanets: Atmospheric signs of volcanic activity could aid search for life Posted: 08 Jun 2015 06:30 PM PDT Planets with volcanic activity are considered better candidates for life than worlds without such heated internal goings-on. Researchers have found a way to detect volcanic activity in the atmospheres of exoplanets when they transit, or pass in front of their host stars.

Evolution is unpredictable and irreversible, biologists show Posted: 08 Jun 2015 06:30 PM PDT A study by biologists now provides evidence that, at the molecular level, evolution is both unpredictable and irreversible. The study focuses exclusively on the type of evolution known as purifying selection, which favors mutations that have no or only a small effect in a fixed environment. This is in contrast to adaptation, in which mutations are selected if they increase an organism's fitness in a new environment. Purifying selection is by far the more common type of selection.

Chimpanzees may know when they are right and move to prove it Posted: 08 Jun 2015 06:27 PM PDT Chimpanzees are capable of metacognition, or thinking about one's own thinking, and can adjust their behavior accordingly, researchers have discovered.

Researchers analyze the structure of bird feathers to create hues without dye Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:20 PM PDT Work from a research team is seeking to produce synthetic particles that mimic the tiny packets of melanin found in feathers. These tiny packets of synthetic melanin produce structural color, like in a bird's feather, when they are packed into layers. Structural color occurs through the interaction of light with materials that have patterns on a tiny scale, which reflect light to make some wavelengths brighter and others darker.

New study sheds light on life satisfaction, mortality risk in older adults Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:20 PM PDT Greater life satisfaction in adults older than 50 years of age is related to a reduced risk of mortality, new research shows. The researchers also found that variability in life satisfaction across time increases risk of mortality, but only among less satisfied people. The study involved nearly 4,500 participants who were followed for up to nine years.

Crows count on 'number neurons' Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:20 PM PDT Neurobiologists have discovered cells in the crow brain that respond to a specific number of items. The study provides valuable insights into the biological roots of counting capabilities. What makes this finding even more interesting is that a long evolutionary history separates us from birds; as a consequence, the brains of crows and humans are designed very differently.

Boosting gut bacteria defense system may lead to better treatments for bloodstream infections Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:19 PM PDT An upset in the body's natural balance of gut bacteria that may lead to life-threatening bloodstream infections can be reversed by enhancing a specific immune defense response, researchers have found.

Researchers identify new genetic cause of arrhythmia and develop therapy Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:19 PM PDT A rare and deadly form of inherited arrhythmia has been identified by researchers, who have developed a method to treat it. Arrhythmia is a malfunction of the heart's electrical system that causes irregular heartbeats. Most people experience harmless skipped beats or fluttering. However, nearly 4 million Americans have heart arrhythmias that range from bothersome to deadly.

Yin and yang: Immune signaling protein has opposing roles in breast cancer development Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:19 PM PDT Inhibiting the immune receptor protein TLR4 may not be a wise treatment strategy in all cancers, researchers have discovered, countering previously held beliefs,

Scientists show antitumor agent can be activated by natural response to cell stress Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:19 PM PDT Scientists have found that a drug candidate with anticancer potential can be activated by one of the body's natural responses to cellular stress. Once activated, the agent can kill prostate cancer cells.

Navigating multiple myeloma with 'Google Maps' for the cancer genome Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:19 PM PDT A new approach for studying the cancer genome has been described by researchers who say that it will let scientists account for both the individual tiles and the whole mosaic. It enables researchers and clinicians to look at the small- and large-scale genetic changes that define individual cancers, they add.

Loon chicks grow fast, fledge early to give parents a break Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:42 AM PDT Raising healthy chicks is always a challenge, but in a cold, fish-free Arctic lake, it's an enormous undertaking. Red-throated Loon parents must constantly fly back and forth between their nesting lakes and the nearby ocean, bringing back fish to feed their growing young, and a new study suggests that the chicks grow fast and fledge while they're still small so that they can reach the food-rich ocean themselves and give their parents a break.

Children with TBI have poorer sleep quality, more daytime sleepiness Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:41 AM PDT Children with traumatic brain injuries have poorer sleep and more daytime sleepiness in comparison to healthy children, new research confirms. The children with TBI also had impaired emotional, physical and social functioning when compared to healthy children.

Antibiotic use can be cut dramatically for abdominal infections, major trial shows Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:41 AM PDT In a finding important for preventing the development of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, researchers have determined that the duration of antibiotic treatment for complicated abdominal infections can be cut by half and remain equally effective.

Ultrafast heat conduction can manipulate nanoscale magnets Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:41 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered physical mechanisms allowing the manipulation of magnetic information with heat. These new phenomena rely on the transport of thermal energy, in contrast to the conventional application of magnetic fields, providing a new, and highly desirable way to manipulate magnetization at the nanoscale.

Most detailed view ever of star formation in distant universe Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:40 AM PDT ALMA's Long Baseline Campaign has produced a spectacularly detailed image of a distant galaxy being gravitationally lensed. The image shows a magnified view of the galaxy's star-forming regions, the likes of which have never been seen before at this level of detail in a galaxy so remote. The new observations are far more detailed than those made using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, and reveal star-forming clumps in the galaxy equivalent to giant versions of the Orion Nebula.

Nanomaterial self-assembly imaged in real time Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:40 AM PDT Researchers have for the first time visualized the growth of 'nanoscale' chemical complexes in real time, demonstrating that processes in liquids at the scale of one-billionth of a meter can be documented as they happen.

Tool can accurately predict risk of death within on year after admission to hospital Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:39 AM PDT A recently developed tool can accurately predict the risk of death for patients within one year after admission to hospital using routinely collected data, reports a new study.

Technology offers a bird’s-eye view on how foreclosure affects the landscape Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:38 AM PDT Contrary to popular belief, foreclosed properties do not always lead to unkempt lawns. Researchers used remote sensing technology to observe rapid change in U.S. urban settings, specifically homes in Maricopa County, Arizona, that foreclosed over about a 10-year period.

Disrupting tumor cell 'microenvironment' suggests a new way to treat a prevalent childhood leukemia Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:37 AM PDT A potentially important discovery has been made in the battle against one of the most devastating forms of leukemia that accounts for as many as one in five children with a particularly aggressive form of the disease relapsing within a decade. Researchers report that they have successfully halted and reversed the growth of certain cancerous white blood cells at the center of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or T-ALL, by stalling the action of a specific protein receptor found in abundance on the surface of T cells at the core of T-ALL.

Recognizing reliable clinical data is vital as public reporting increases Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:37 AM PDT Public reporting of health care quality and patient safety information has reached unprecedented levels, allowing patients to play an increasing role in their own health care decisions; however, as access to information becomes easier, it is important for patients to know where to look for the most accurate and reliable data, say experts.

Scientists shed light on the motivations of healthy people seeking personal genome sequencing Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:37 AM PDT New research offers insights about why healthy people are interested in getting their genomes sequenced and interpreted, even when there is no immediate medical need.

Researchers boost body's inflammation-reduction mechanism to combat obesity-fueled disease Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:37 AM PDT Augmenting a naturally occurring molecule in the body can help protect against obesity-related diseases by reducing inflammation in the fat tissues, researchers report.

Study links lower life satisfaction to sleep problems during midlife Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:02 AM PDT Lower life satisfaction is linked to sleep problems during midlife, a new study suggests. Sleep onset delay among those with low life satisfaction could be the result of worry and anxiety, as reported elsewhere. These findings support the idea that life satisfaction is interlinked with many measures of sleep and sleep quality, suggesting that improving one of these variables might result in improving the other.

Study links severe restless legs syndrome to increased risk of stroke Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:02 AM PDT Increased restless legs syndrome severity is associated with subsequent increased risk of stroke, researchers report. The study group comprised 72,916 female registered nurses ages 41-58 years in 2005, free of diabetes, stroke, and pregnancy at the baseline.

Using Minecraft to unboggle the robot mind Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:02 AM PDT Researchers are developing a new algorithm to help robots better plan their actions in complex environments. It's designed to help robots be more useful in the real world, but it's being developed with the help of a virtual world -- that of the video game Minecraft.

Study examines psychotropic medication use in children, teens with Down syndrome Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:02 AM PDT A new study gives insight into the mental health of children and teens with Down syndrome and the behavioral medications that medical caregivers sometimes prescribe for them.

Crossing a critical threshold in optical communications Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:02 AM PDT Researchers have advanced a step closer to the dream of all-optical data transmission by building and demonstrating what they call the 'world's first fully functioning single crystal waveguide in glass.' In a new article, the group said it had employed ultrafast femtosecond lasers to produce a three-dimensional single crystal capable of guiding light waves through glass with little loss of light.

Novel laboratory works to improve population health and prepare transformational leaders Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:02 AM PDT A newly published paper describes a novel virtual laboratory employing the tools of implementation science to improve population health, lower costs of its delivery and prepare future health care transformational leaders.

How your brain is telling you to vote Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:02 AM PDT A new study has cast some light on the brain mechanisms that support people's voting decisions. The new study provides the first evidence that the lateral orbitofrontal cortex is critical for integrating different kinds of information to allow people to arrive at a preference.

Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder may share genetic roots with creativity Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT Genes linked to creativity could increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to new research. Genetic risk scores were examined in a sample of 86,292 individuals from the general population of Iceland. Creative individuals were defined as those belonging to the national artistic societies of actors, dancers, musicians, visual artists and writers.

Injectable electronics: New system holds promise for basic neuroscience, treatment of neuro-degenerative diseases Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT An international team of researchers has developed a method for fabricating nano-scale electronic scaffolds that can be injected via syringe. Once connected to electronic devices, the scaffolds can be used to monitor neural activity, stimulate tissues and even promote regenerations of neurons.

Researchers expose how 'James Bond' cells are made Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT New research has revealed how immune cell 'spies' are created, providing clues on how the immune system could be manipulated to better fight disease. Dendritic cells are intelligence-gathering immune cells, gathering information on viruses, bacteria, cancer and fungi to aid the immune system in fighting disease. Understanding how dendritic cells are created will aid scientists in finding ways to boost the immune response to infections or dampen it in autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, experts say.

Study examines association between cholesterol-lowering drugs, memory impairment Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT Both statin and nonstatin cholesterol-lowering drugs were associated with memory loss in the first 30 days after patients started taking the medications when compared with nonusers, but researchers suggest the association may have resulted because patients using the medications may have more contact with their physicians and therefore be more likely to detect any memory loss, according to a new article.

Certain preoperative tests still common in US despite low value and high costs Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT Professional physician associations consider certain routine tests before elective surgery to be of low value and high cost, and have sought to discourage their utilization. Nonetheless, a new American study finds that despite these peer-reviewed recommendations, no significant changes have occurred over a 14-year period in the rates of several kinds of these pre-operative tests.

Flash flood risks increase as storm peak downpours intensify Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT Thirty-year weather records from 79 locations across Australia reveal peak downpours during storms are intensifying at warmer temperatures across all climate zones, leading to greater flash flood risks in cities.

Virus evolution and human behavior shape global patterns of flu movement Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT The global movement patterns of all four seasonal influenza viruses are illustrated in new research, providing a detailed account of country-to-country virus spread over the last decade and revealing unexpected differences in circulation patterns between viruses.

Weathering, river discharge surprisingly constant during Ice Age cycles Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT Contrary to expectations, weathering rates over the past two million years have remained constant through glacial cycles, new research shows. Scientists are interested in the rates of these chemical weathering processes because they have big implications for the planet's carbon cycle, which shuttles carbon dioxide between land, sea, and air and influences global temperatures.

Don't complain: Train young adult slackers who work in your office Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT Emerging adults aged 18 to 25 are often criticized for their poor interpersonal skills, sense of entitlement, and casual work ethic. But a new study suggests that fault-finding adult co-workers could make a big difference in young workers' leadership development by developing relationships with them, modeling the behaviors they wish to see, and providing leadership growth opportunities.

Tiny particles, big impact? Researchers investigating how ingesting nanoparticles may influence health Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:00 AM PDT Researchers believe understanding nanoparticles' ability to influence our metabolic processing may be integral to mediating metabolic disorders and obesity, both of which are on the rise and have been linked to processed foods.

Study supports early intervention for prostate cancer patients who experience significant emotional distress Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:00 AM PDT Beliefs and personality traits that are associated with higher levels of distress in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients have been identified by researchers. The findings support the value of emotional and informational support for patients and perhaps early counseling for some who are the most distressed.

Whole genome sequencing found to rapidly enhance infection control Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:22 AM PDT Whole genome sequencing can quickly isolate the specific strain of bacteria causing an outbreak, identify the source of contamination, and enable rapid infection prevention to stop the spread of infection, according to a study. The findings are based on the examination of an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an Australian neonatal unit.

Breast cancer study raises hope of therapy to stop tumor spread Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:22 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a trigger that allows breast cancer cells to spread to the lungs. The findings could lead to new therapies that stop the progression of breast cancer, the researchers report.

Psychology researchers report a major discovery of harmony amid chaos Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:22 AM PDT Natural delays in the human nervous system can actually enhance anticipation when coordinating with another person's unpredictable behaviors. The researchers say the study demonstrates that inherent delays in the nervous system may play a constructive role in enabling individuals to anticipate the movement of others.

Lean despite many calories Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:22 AM PDT Scientists have identified an enzyme in mice that is involved in obesity and metabolic disruptions associated with it, such as type 2 diabetes. When the investigators turned off the enzyme in experiments, the animals did not gain any weight despite being fed a diet that was rich in fat and caloric content. Furthermore, they did not develop diabetes. So far, however, there is still not much evidence that this mechanism also plays a role in humans.

New composite material as carbon dioxide sensor Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:21 AM PDT A new material changes its conductivity depending on the concentration of carbon dioxide in the environment. The researchers who developed it have utilized the material to produce a miniature, simply constructed sensor.

Researchers develop models for targeted cancer therapy Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:16 AM PDT The results of a recent study on targeted therapy of a specific type of brain cancer show specific progress in cancer treatment. Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma may be one of the lesser-known forms of cancer, yet may be one of the most diabolical.

Researchers use prehistoric amber to test glass theory Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:16 AM PDT Researchers have used prehistoric amber to test glass theory. Along the way, the investigation sheds light on the long-held urban myth of the fluidity of stained glass.

Data scientists find connections between birth month and health Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:15 AM PDT Scientists have developed a computational method to investigate the relationship between birth month and disease risk. The researchers used this algorithm to examine New York City medical databases and found 55 diseases that correlated with the season of birth. Overall, the study indicated people born in May had the lowest disease risk, and those born in October the highest.

Futuristic components on silicon chips, fabricated successfully Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:15 AM PDT Scientists have developed a relatively simple, robust and versatile process for growing crystals made from compound semiconductor materials that will allow them be integrated onto silicon wafers -- an important step toward making future computer chips that will allow integrated circuits to continue shrinking in size and cost even as they increase in performance.

Asian economic integration means huge challenges for trees, farmers and food supply Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:29 AM PDT Ten Southeast Asian nations will form a single economic bloc at the end of 2015. Agroforestry, forestry and agricultural policies, implementation and law enforcement are lagging behind. The gap threatens millions of livelihoods, environmental safety and national abilities to adapt to climate change, despite some inspiring progress.

New microscope technique could speed identification of deadly bacteria Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:29 AM PDT A new way of rapidly identifying bacteria, which requires a slight modification to a simple microscope, may change the way doctors approach treatment for patients who develop potentially deadly infections and may also help the food industry screen against contamination with harmful pathogens, according to researchers.

Getting to the heart of the matter: CERN's hidden heritage Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:29 AM PDT A nuclear physicist and an archaeologist have joined forces to produce a unique appraisal of the cultural significance of one of the world's most important locations for scientific inquiry: CERN, the home of the Large Hadron Collider on the Franco-Swiss border. Situated between the Jura Mountains and the Alps, CERN was established in 1954 to promote peaceful co-operation between nations still recovering from the Second World War.

New approach for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:29 AM PDT Researchers have identified a potential novel drug target for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a dangerous chronic lung disease. They elucidated a new mechanism of fibrosis formation that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Recovery of sensory function by stem cell transplants Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:29 AM PDT New research shows promising progress in the use of stem cells for treatment of spinal cord injury. The results show that human stem cells that are transplanted to the injured spinal cord contribute to restoration of some sensory functions.

California Academy of Sciences discovers 100 new species in the Philippines Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:29 AM PDT Scientists are celebrating World Ocean's Day with a slew of brand new marine discoveries -- more than 100 species that are likely new to science. Mysterious live animals from dimly-lit, deep-water reefs were also collected.

What do walnuts smell like? Using aroma to control pests Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:28 AM PDT Walnut aromas will allow walnut pests to be controlled and the use of pesticides to be reduced, researchers have discovered. The outcome of the research is that the team has identified the aromas that differentiate between intact walnuts and damaged ones and which may lure insect pests that harm the Californian crops. This pioneering research is opening up the way for conducting studies on pest control in autochthonous crops.

Why crystals could be the shape of future pharmaceuticals Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:28 AM PDT Scientists are building a better understanding of the chemical processes behind the creation of crystals with the aim of developing new ways to produce pharmaceuticals.

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