ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Arctic sea ice summertime minimum is fourth lowest on record
• Women exposed to organic pollutants in early pregnancy have more than four-times increased risk of gestational diabetes
• Analysis of 21 studies shows exposure to pesticides is associated with increased risk of developing diabetes
• Nearby red dwarves could reveal planet secrets
• Disruptions of splicing proteins cause facial, skin, organ defects in young mice
• Young chum salmon may get biggest nutrition boost from Elliott Bay restored beaches
• Earth's pull is 'massaging' our moon
• A better look at religion's influence on political attitudes
• Electronic reminders keep TB patients on track with medication in China
• Cassini finds global ocean in Saturn's moon Enceladus
• Rosetta Mission: Ptolemy sniffs next piece of the comet puzzle
• Sweeping study of US farm data shows loss of crop diversity the past 34 years
• Yoga improves arthritis symptoms, mood, study finds
• Previously unknown flea genus, species discovered in fossilized Dominican amber
• Shift in human ancestors' diet earlier than previously thought
• Beta-blockers promote heart muscle cell survival following a heart attack
• Spleen may provide new target for treating stroke's debilitating chronic inflammation
• Teen marijuana use down despite greater availability
• Number of people at high risk of fracture set to double by 2040
• New perspectives for long-term climate predictions
• Popular hypertension drugs linked to worse heart health in blacks compared to whites
• Hookah tobacco smoking seems to be increasing in both prevalence, frequency
• Are early childhood educators undervalued?
• New school-evaluation method fails to affect housing prices
• Chemical engineers outline new approach to materials design
• Specific fatty acids may worsen Crohn's disease
• Dealing with climate change and local beliefs in Africa
• Skin microbiome influences common sexually transmitted disease
• Additional time spent outdoors by children results in decreased rate of nearsightedness
• Controlling brain cells with sound waves
• Researchers document self-reported use of new, uncommon synthetic drugs by teens, young adults
• How does soil differ across Earth's biomes: Great plains, coastal wetlands, deserts
• Planning sustainable energy at local scale
• Expedition to study impact of inflow on life in the Baltic Sea
• Acetic acid, found in vinegar, shown to be effective against bacteria found in burn wounds
• Growing public support found in USA, Canada for smokefree outdoor laws
• Social media data could contribute to conservation science
• Virus in cattle linked to human breast cancer
• As wildland-urban interface grows, so does risk to people and habitats
• New drugs could stop growth of drug-resistant childhood tumors
• Link between air pollution, increased deaths and increased deaths from heart disease affirmed
• The saying 'it never rains but it pours' is truer than ever in Scotland, says new research into how our climate is changing
• New mouse brain map may illuminate origins of mental illnesses
• Observing nano-bio interactions in real time
• Earliest evidence for ambush hunting by early humans in the Kenyan Rift
• New genome sequence to provide insight into tiger mosquito and how deadly diseases are transmitted to humans
• Smoke from forest fires aggravates respiratory health of children, study shows
• Study of antidepressants reveals how treatment helps depression management
• Keeping one step ahead of cancer cells
• Potential new therapeutic approach found for liver cell cancer
• Research breakthrough in fight against muscle wasting diseases
• Combining epigenetic therapies with immunotherapies likely to improve cancer patient outcomes
• Artificial leaf: New efficiency record for solar hydrogen production is 14 percent
• Scan may identify best candidates for fetal spina bifida surgery
• World loses trillions of dollars worth of nature's benefits each year due to land degradation
• MRI improves diagnosis of microbleeding after brain injury in military personnel
• England improving health performance compared to other wealthy countries
• Video game warnings fall far short in rating tobacco content
• Heightened injury risk linked to shift length for emergency services clinicians
• Evidence of emotional 'load sharing' in close relationships

Arctic sea ice summertime minimum is fourth lowest on record Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:15 PM PDT According to a NASA analysis of satellite data, the 2015 Arctic sea ice minimum extent is the fourth lowest on record since observations from space began.

Women exposed to organic pollutants in early pregnancy have more than four-times increased risk of gestational diabetes Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:13 PM PDT New research shows that a 10-times increased exposure to organic pollutants in early pregnancy is associated with a 4.4 times increased risk of a pregnant woman developing gestational diabetes.

Analysis of 21 studies shows exposure to pesticides is associated with increased risk of developing diabetes Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:13 PM PDT A meta-analysis of 21 studies shows that exposure to pesticides is associated with increased risk of developing diabetes by 61 percent, with different types of pesticides showing varying levels of risk.

Nearby red dwarves could reveal planet secrets Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:13 PM PDT An accidental find of a collection of young red dwarf stars close to our solar system could give us a rare glimpse of slow-motion planet formation. Astronomers have found large discs of dust around two of the stars, tell-tale signs of planets in the process of forming.

Disruptions of splicing proteins cause facial, skin, organ defects in young mice Posted: 15 Sep 2015 01:26 PM PDT Knocking out one or both crucial regulatory genes caused cleft lip, skin barrier defects, and a host of other developmental problems in mice, hinting that abnormalities in these molecular pathways could underlie many birth defects that are presently not well understood.

Young chum salmon may get biggest nutrition boost from Elliott Bay restored beaches Posted: 15 Sep 2015 01:25 PM PDT Researchers have found the types of organisms in Seattle's Elliott Bay change depending on the shoreline nearby, either armored or restored beaches. Young chum salmon adjusted their diets based on these changes.

Earth's pull is 'massaging' our moon Posted: 15 Sep 2015 01:25 PM PDT Earth's gravity has influenced the orientation of thousands of faults that form in the lunar surface as the moon shrinks, according to new results.

A better look at religion's influence on political attitudes Posted: 15 Sep 2015 01:25 PM PDT Political scientists have developed a new strategy for measuring how Biblical interpretation influences people's political behavior. A better strategy for measuring religious beliefs will mean more accurate results, according to the authors.

Electronic reminders keep TB patients on track with medication in China Posted: 15 Sep 2015 01:25 PM PDT Giving electronic reminders to tuberculosis patients in China can reduce the amount of medication doses they miss by half, according to new research.

Cassini finds global ocean in Saturn's moon Enceladus Posted: 15 Sep 2015 12:53 PM PDT A global ocean lies beneath the icy crust of Saturn's geologically active moon Enceladus, according to new research using data from NASA's Cassini mission.

Rosetta Mission: Ptolemy sniffs next piece of the comet puzzle Posted: 15 Sep 2015 11:15 AM PDT New results from Ptolemy -- an instrument on the Rosetta mission's Philae lander, suggest that Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko may be giving of different gases from different parts of its surface, making it heterogeneous in nature, Ptolemy -- the gas analysis instrument on board Philae, has taken measurements of the concentration of volatile molecules at the lander's final resting site, known as. Its findings have shown the presence of both water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2), but of very little carbon monoxide (CO).

Sweeping study of US farm data shows loss of crop diversity the past 34 years Posted: 15 Sep 2015 11:11 AM PDT Diverse agroecosystems are more resilient to variable weather from climate change, researchers say, upon concluding through study that across the United States, there has been a loss of crop diversity on farms.

Yoga improves arthritis symptoms, mood, study finds Posted: 15 Sep 2015 11:11 AM PDT Yoga can be safe and effective for people with arthritis, a randomized trial of people with two common forms of arthritis has found. The researchers report that eight weeks of yoga classes improved the physical and mental well being of people with two common forms of arthritis, knee osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Previously unknown flea genus, species discovered in fossilized Dominican amber Posted: 15 Sep 2015 11:11 AM PDT A strange flea that is believed to be 20-30 million years old has been found in amber from the Dominican Republic. The specimen displays many features that are not found on any other flea, fossil or extant.

Shift in human ancestors' diet earlier than previously thought Posted: 15 Sep 2015 11:11 AM PDT Pre-humans' shift toward a grass-based diet took place about 400,000 years earlier than experts previously thought, providing a clearer picture of a time of rapid change in conditions that shaped human evolution.

Beta-blockers promote heart muscle cell survival following a heart attack Posted: 15 Sep 2015 11:10 AM PDT A commonly prescribed drug for heart disease may do more good than previously thought. Researchers have found that beta-blockers may prevent further cell death following a heart attack and that could lead to better longer term patient outcomes.

Spleen may provide new target for treating stroke's debilitating chronic inflammation Posted: 15 Sep 2015 11:10 AM PDT Stroke injures the brain, but a new study indicates an abdominal organ that plays a vital role in immune function, the spleen, may be a target for treating stroke-induced chronic inflammation leading to further brain cell death.

Teen marijuana use down despite greater availability Posted: 15 Sep 2015 11:10 AM PDT Marijuana use among American high school students is significantly lower today than it was 15 years ago, despite the legalization in many states of marijuana for medical purposes, a move toward decriminalization of the drug and the approval of its recreational use in a handful of places, new research suggests.

Number of people at high risk of fracture set to double by 2040 Posted: 15 Sep 2015 11:10 AM PDT A new study projects a dramatic increase in the burden of fragility fractures within the next three decades. By 2040, approximately 319 million people will be at high risk of fracture -- double the numbers considered at high risk today.

New perspectives for long-term climate predictions Posted: 15 Sep 2015 11:10 AM PDT The natural, 11-year cycle of solar activity is apparently influencing long-term climate fluctuations in the Northern Hemisphere. An international team of scientists has shown that the so-called North Atlantic Oscillation, one of the dominant circulation patterns on the Northern Hemisphere, is phased-locked to the decadal solar activity with a delay of one or two years.

Popular hypertension drugs linked to worse heart health in blacks compared to whites Posted: 15 Sep 2015 11:10 AM PDT Drugs commonly used to treat high blood pressure, and prevent heart attacks and strokes, are associated with significantly worse cardiovascular outcomes in hypertensive African Americans compared to whites, according to a new comparative effectiveness research.

Hookah tobacco smoking seems to be increasing in both prevalence, frequency Posted: 15 Sep 2015 10:58 AM PDT Nearly one in five recently surveyed high school seniors report having smoked tobacco from a hookah in the past year, and more than a third of them reported smoking hookahs often enough to be considered regular users, an analysis has revealed. The findings add to evidence that hookah use among adolescents is increasing in both prevalence and frequency.

Are early childhood educators undervalued? Posted: 15 Sep 2015 10:56 AM PDT No one is looking at how we perceive and value those who provide the education and care to young children, a researcher proclaims, and she wants that to change. In a new paper, she writes that invariably, the focus of the debate is on the children's needs, the parents' needs and society's needs. The educator is rarely mentioned.

New school-evaluation method fails to affect housing prices Posted: 15 Sep 2015 10:56 AM PDT The controversial new method of evaluating teachers and schools -- called 'value-added' -- does not appear to affect property values, finds research by economists.

Chemical engineers outline new approach to materials design Posted: 15 Sep 2015 10:56 AM PDT Chemical engineers have developed a new approach that will have a huge impact in future materials design, they say. The findings reveal a unique model that enables fast and accurate prediction of novel alloy materials for efficient chemical conversions.

Specific fatty acids may worsen Crohn's disease Posted: 15 Sep 2015 10:56 AM PDT Some research has suggested that omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in fish oils, can relieve inflammation in the digestive tracts of people with Crohn's disease. But a new study hints that we should be paying closer attention to what the other omegas -- namely, omega-6 and omega-7 -- and are doing to improve or worsen the disease.

Dealing with climate change and local beliefs in Africa Posted: 15 Sep 2015 10:55 AM PDT Experts should take note of local knowledge and beliefs when helping people in vulnerable regions cope with the impacts of climate change to ensure that such interventions are money well spent, and are not culturally insensitive. Interviews with community members in rural Africa assess how well they are able to adapt to the production of food within the context of shifting belief systems and climate change.

Skin microbiome influences common sexually transmitted disease Posted: 15 Sep 2015 10:54 AM PDT For years, researchers have known that the human skin is home to a diverse community of microorganisms, collectively known as the skin microbiome. Now a new study has shown that individuals with a particular skin microbiome can effectively clear bacteria that cause chancroid, a sexually transmitted disease common in the developing world that has been linked to enhanced HIV transmission.

Additional time spent outdoors by children results in decreased rate of nearsightedness Posted: 15 Sep 2015 10:54 AM PDT The addition of a daily outdoor activity class at school for three years for children in Guangzhou, China, resulted in a reduction in the rate of myopia (nearsightedness, the ability to see close objects more clearly than distant objects), according to a new study.

Controlling brain cells with sound waves Posted: 15 Sep 2015 10:54 AM PDT A new technique to selectively and noninvasively turn on groups of neurons in worms could be boon to science and medicine.

Researchers document self-reported use of new, uncommon synthetic drugs by teens, young adults Posted: 15 Sep 2015 07:59 AM PDT This is the first study reporting on use of a variety of new drugs in a nationally representative U.S. sample. Researchers are confident that use was severely underreported, as the subjects were not asked about most of these new drugs specifically. The researchers advocate for health surveys to ask about use of new drugs, in addition to traditional drugs such as marijuana and cocaine, in order to quickly pick up on potential drug epidemics.

How does soil differ across Earth's biomes: Great plains, coastal wetlands, deserts Posted: 15 Sep 2015 07:59 AM PDT Moisture content, organic matter, and the color of soil varies across the United States, researchers reveal.

Planning sustainable energy at local scale Posted: 15 Sep 2015 07:56 AM PDT European forests have an important role in rural development as a source of raw material and food, as well as for their recreational value. Rural development focuses on the use of local resources to provide benefits to the local population. It also aims to prevent the depopulation of rural areas by increasing local employment opportunities. In developing distributed energy systems for rural communities, it is crucial to understand that local decision making processes need to be guided by a careful evaluation of the sustainability of production chains and alternative choices. A recent study by an international team of scientists looks at the possibilities an integrated assessment can offer to rural development and energy policy objectives.

Expedition to study impact of inflow on life in the Baltic Sea Posted: 15 Sep 2015 07:56 AM PDT A two week research cruise is set to investigate if new areas have become available for successful spawning of cod after a recent inflow of water from the North Sea.

Acetic acid, found in vinegar, shown to be effective against bacteria found in burn wounds Posted: 15 Sep 2015 07:52 AM PDT Highly diluted acetic acid, an active ingredient of household vinegar, has been shown to be an effective alternative agent to prevent infection and kill bacteria found in burn wounds.

Growing public support found in USA, Canada for smokefree outdoor laws Posted: 15 Sep 2015 07:50 AM PDT A new study has found increasing support in the United States and Canada for smokefree laws for outdoor areas, especially in playgrounds and school grounds. The collaborative study provides new and some unexpected insights for health promotion in North America. A key finding is that most residents welcome smokefree laws. Support was strongest for smokefree playgrounds and school grounds, but there was also majority support for a range of other smokefree areas.

Social media data could contribute to conservation science Posted: 15 Sep 2015 07:50 AM PDT Planning conservation actions requires up-to-date information on biodiversity, but also on human pressures. Scientists who collect data are few and far between on a global scale, but nature enthusiasts are everywhere. Spending time on social media might be helpful for biodiversity conservation, argue researchers.

Virus in cattle linked to human breast cancer Posted: 15 Sep 2015 07:50 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have established a link between infection with the bovine leukemia virus and human breast cancer. Researchers analyzed breast tissue from 239 women, comparing samples from women who had breast cancer with women who had no history of the disease for the presence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV). They found that 59 percent of breast cancer samples had evidence of exposure to BLV, as determined by the presence of viral DNA.

As wildland-urban interface grows, so does risk to people and habitats Posted: 15 Sep 2015 07:49 AM PDT Humans and habitat intersect in the wildland-urban interface, or WUI, a geography that now includes about one-third of homes in the United States within just 10 percent of the nation's land area. Both numbers are growing, according to a new USDA Forest Service map book summarizing the extent of the nation's WUI nationally and by state.

New drugs could stop growth of drug-resistant childhood tumors Posted: 15 Sep 2015 07:49 AM PDT New drugs are needed to treat the most common type of childhood brain tumor and could also be effective against skin cancer, scientists report. They tested a drug called Roflumilast in mice with a brain tumor that is resistant to Vismodegib, the drug in current use. Roflumilast is normally used to treat inflammatory lung diseases. It dramatically inhibited tumor growth from the first day of treatment. As expected, Vismodegib had no effect.

Link between air pollution, increased deaths and increased deaths from heart disease affirmed Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:43 AM PDT In what is believed to be the largest, most detailed study of its kind in the United States, scientists have confirmed that tiny chemical particles in the air we breathe are linked to an overall increase in risk of early death.

The saying 'it never rains but it pours' is truer than ever in Scotland, says new research into how our climate is changing Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:41 AM PDT Changes in the shape of rainfall across Europe have been identified by research: changes in the amount of drizzle compared with downpours and everything in-between.

New mouse brain map may illuminate origins of mental illnesses Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:41 AM PDT A highly detailed model has been released of connections in the mouse brain that could provide generations of neuroscientists new insights into brain circuits and origins of mental illness, such as depression and schizophrenia.

Observing nano-bio interactions in real time Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:07 AM PDT A new technique has been developed to observe, in real time, how individual blood components interact and modify advanced nanoparticle therapeutics. The method helps guide the design of future nanoparticles to interact in concert with human blood components, thus avoiding unwanted side effects.

Earliest evidence for ambush hunting by early humans in the Kenyan Rift Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:07 AM PDT Around one million years ago, early humans were skilful at using the landscape features of the Kenyan Rift to ambush and kill their prey, according to new research.

New genome sequence to provide insight into tiger mosquito and how deadly diseases are transmitted to humans Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:07 AM PDT The first draft genome sequence of Aedes albopictus, commonly known as the tiger mosquito, has been published by scientists. This tiger mosquito is responsible for transmitting several deadly diseases to humans, such as dengue and chikungunya, potentially offering hope to millions around the world.

Smoke from forest fires aggravates respiratory health of children, study shows Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:07 AM PDT Air pollution from forest fires aggravates the respiratory health of children, new research concludes. Researchers conclude that this study provides scientific evidence that wildfires, such as those that devastated a large part of the province of Valencia, Spain in 2012, affect the health of children, especially of those who are more susceptible.

Study of antidepressants reveals how treatment helps depression management Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:06 AM PDT Several different classes of antidepressants increase early growth responses in astrocytes, star-shaped glial cells, which could help develop new treatments, researchers have shown.

Keeping one step ahead of cancer cells Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:06 AM PDT BRD4 inhibitors are among the most promising new agents in cancer therapy that are currently evaluated in clinical trials. In a new study, a team of researchers reveals how leukemia cells can evade the deadly effects of BRD4 inhibition. Understanding this adaptation process could aid the development of sequential therapies to outsmart resistant leukemias.

Potential new therapeutic approach found for liver cell cancer Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:06 AM PDT The growth factor receptor FGFR3 increases the rate of growth and aggressiveness of hepatocellular carcinomas (liver cell cancer), new research shows. Inhibition of this receptor could be a new and effective way of treating patients.

Research breakthrough in fight against muscle wasting diseases Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:04 AM PDT It is estimated that half of all cancer patients suffer from a muscle wasting syndrome called cachexia. Cancer cachexia impairs quality of life and response to therapy, which increases morbidity and mortality of cancer patients. Currently, there is no approved treatment for muscle wasting, but a new study could be a game changer for patients, improving both quality of life and longevity.

Combining epigenetic therapies with immunotherapies likely to improve cancer patient outcomes Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:04 AM PDT Epigenetic therapies are likely to provide additional clinical benefit to cancer patients when rationally combined with immunotherapeutic drugs, according to a review.

Artificial leaf: New efficiency record for solar hydrogen production is 14 percent Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:04 AM PDT An international team has succeeded in considerably increasing the efficiency for direct solar water splitting with a tandem solar cell whose surfaces have been selectively modified. The new record value is 14 percent and thus tops the previous record of 12.4 percent, broken now for the first time in 17 years.

Scan may identify best candidates for fetal spina bifida surgery Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:04 AM PDT Fetuses with enlarged ventricles -- the fluid-filled cavities inside the brain -- may be less likely than their counterparts to benefit from surgery in the womb to treat spina bifida, according to a study.

World loses trillions of dollars worth of nature's benefits each year due to land degradation Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:04 AM PDT Experts estimate the value of ecosystem services worldwide forfeited due to land degradation at US $6.3-10.6 trillion annually, or the equivalent of 10-17 percent of global GDP, a new report suggests. An estimated 50 million people may be forced to seek new homes and livelihoods within 10 years. That many migrants assembled would constitute the world's 28th largest country by population.

MRI improves diagnosis of microbleeding after brain injury in military personnel Posted: 15 Sep 2015 06:04 AM PDT Imaging patients soon after traumatic brain injury occurs can lead to better (more accurate) detection of cerebral microhemorrhages, or microbleeding on the brain, according to a new study of military service members.

England improving health performance compared to other wealthy countries Posted: 14 Sep 2015 07:43 PM PDT In 2013, England performed better than average on a variety of key health outcomes compared with 18 other high-income countries in the European Union, and Australia, Canada, Norway, and the USA (EU15+), according to new research.

Video game warnings fall far short in rating tobacco content Posted: 14 Sep 2015 07:43 PM PDT Video games are not adequately rated for tobacco content, according to a new study that found video gamers are being widely exposed to tobacco imagery.

Heightened injury risk linked to shift length for emergency services clinicians Posted: 14 Sep 2015 07:43 PM PDT Working shifts of 16 to 24 hours in length is linked to a 60 percent heightened risk of injury and illness among emergency services (EMS) clinicians, compared to shifts of eight to 12 hours, finds new research.

Evidence of emotional 'load sharing' in close relationships Posted: 14 Sep 2015 07:05 PM PDT Evidence of emotional load sharing between partners in a close relationship has bee uncovered by researchers. Their new study found that a strong relationship with a loved one can help ease stress when placed in difficult situations.

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