ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Mycologist says our close relatives break the bounds of biology
• Targeting invasive cells not dividing cells to halt cancer, study suggests
• Newly discovered tumor-suppressor gene affects melanoma survival
• Natural protein cage developed for improved cancer drug delivery
• Persian Gulf could experience deadly heat
• High post-pregnancy BMI raises pelvic organ prolapse risk
• Physicists uncover novel phase of matter
• Researchers study differences in ischemic stroke in marijuana users
• Young women more likely to die in hospital after STEMI
• Climate change threatens survival of common lizards
• Young women less likely to be informed of heart disease risk by providers
• Rare warrior tomb filled with Bronze Age wealth and weapons discovered
• Study of inner ear development hints at way to restore hearing and balance
• Declines in whales, fish, seabirds and large animals disrupt Earth's nutrient cycle
• Sheet music for creating the artificial sense of touch
• 'Love hormone' helps produce 'bliss molecules' to boost pleasure of social interactions
• Loss of large land mammals could change landscapes forever
• Elephants boost tree losses in South Africa's largest savanna reserve
• Ancient babies boost Bering land bridge layover
• Chemists find better way to pack natural gas into fuel tanks
• Common chemical makeup at largest cosmic scales
• Large, violent animal packs shaped the ecosystems of the Pleistocene epoch
• Ancient permafrost quickly transforms to carbon dioxide upon thaw
• CRISPR brings precise control to gene expression
• Extinction of Pleistocene herbivores induced major vegetation and landscape changes
• Surgery proving option for more pancreatic cancer patients, expert says
• In the French suburbs, Big Brother is watching you
• Entanglement at heart of ‘two-for-one’ fission in next-generation solar cells
• New genetic discovery advances understanding of prostate cancer
• Mechanism discovered that could lead to better ovarian cancer treatment
• Molecular motor grows cell's microtubules
• How ants and ketchup are alike: Both solid-like and liquid-like
• Scientists uncover signal for when a pregnant woman is about to go into labor
• Insulin cells determine weight-loss surgery success rate
• Much needed update on magnetic tracking in cell therapy
• Wanted: Fair players and a climate leader
• New microscope helps scientists see the big picture
• Unraveling the complex, intertwined electron phases in a superconductor
• Chemical probe to dissect role of potential cancer-causing proteins
• If a major economy takes the lead, warming could be limited to 2°C
• Capacity to regenerate body parts may be the primitive state for all four-legged vertebrates
• Research explains limits of cancer immunotherapy drugs
• New testosterone guideline to help Canadian physicians diagnose, treat patients
• Traces of enormous solar storms in the ice of Greenland and Antarctica
• Pupils learn poorly when using most computer programs
• Products expectant mothers should avoid during first trimester
• Researchers discover an epilepsy switch
• Snake venom helps hydrogels stop the bleeding
• Simpler method for measuring viral infections in bees
• What was killing the young right whales? New research finds a suspect
• Response to environmental change depends on variation in corals, algae partnerships
• Two mutations are better than one
• Maintaining blood pressure levels measured before entering OR may improve outcomes
• Lung cancer specialist brings new treatments, hope to new Mexicans
• Harbingers of Halloween spin smart system for scientists to mimic, create new products
• Three-minute test detects common form of dementia that's hard to diagnose
• Study reveals significant global variation in the definition of the term 'rare disease'
• Cellular stress management in people and plants
• Siberian jays can recognize unfamiliar, distant relatives
• Succesful eHealth depends on focus on user and context, says expert

Mycologist says our close relatives break the bounds of biology Posted: 26 Oct 2015 03:17 PM PDT The mushroom nicknamed "death cap" made headlines this summer when it poisoned Syrian refugees fleeing through Eastern Europe. But it was cooperation, not toxicity, that attracted one researcher to Amanita phalloides.

Targeting invasive cells not dividing cells to halt cancer, study suggests Posted: 26 Oct 2015 03:16 PM PDT Most cancer drugs are designed to target dividing cells, but a new study suggests that targeting invasive cells may be a new strategy to treat metastatic cancer.

Newly discovered tumor-suppressor gene affects melanoma survival Posted: 26 Oct 2015 03:09 PM PDT Scientists have found a tumor suppressor gene, RASA2, that drives a particularly deadly form of melanoma as well as regulates a key protein, RAS, that is a major oncogene. The discovery is "highly likely to have direct clinical relevance," say researchers.

Natural protein cage developed for improved cancer drug delivery Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:41 PM PDT A unique, tiny protein cage has been created by scientists to deliver nasty chemotherapy chemicals directly to cancer cells. Direct delivery could improve treatment and lessen what can be horrendous side effects from toxic drugs.

Persian Gulf could experience deadly heat Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:41 PM PDT Climate change could bring deadly heat waves to Persian Gulf, say researchers. Their detailed climate simulation shows a threshold of survivability could be crossed without mitigation measures.

High post-pregnancy BMI raises pelvic organ prolapse risk Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:25 PM PDT Maintaining a normal body mass index (BMI) is important for good cardiovascular health and blood sugar control, but maintaining it after pregnancy can also be key to preventing pelvic organ prolapse, according to a new study.

Physicists uncover novel phase of matter Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:25 PM PDT A team of physicists has discovered an unusual form of matter -- not a conventional metal, insulator, or magnet, for example, but something entirely different. This phase, characterized by an unusual ordering of electrons, could hold the solution to a long-standing mystery in condensed matter physics having to do with high-temperature superconductivity.

Researchers study differences in ischemic stroke in marijuana users Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:25 PM PDT Strokes in young adults who use marijuana are more likely to be caused by stenosis, narrowing of the arteries, in the skull than strokes in non-users, new research shows. Previous studies found an association between marijuana use and stroke, but the new study is the first to explore differences in stroke in marijuana users and non-users, an approach that can help identify possible mechanisms for stroke in users.

Young women more likely to die in hospital after STEMI Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:25 PM PDT Young women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction were less likely to receive life-saving angioplasty and stenting to restore blood flow to blocked arteries than men and also had longer hospital stays and higher rates of in-hospital mortality, according to a study.

Climate change threatens survival of common lizards Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:21 PM PDT While there is no doubt that climate change is affecting many organisms, some species might be more sensitive than others. Reptiles, whose body temperature depends directly on environmental temperature, may be particularly vulnerable. Scientists have now shown experimentally that lizards cope very poorly with the climate predicted for the year 2100.

Young women less likely to be informed of heart disease risk by providers Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:21 PM PDT Even when young women had a similar or greater risk for heart disease than young men, they were 11 percent less likely to report that healthcare providers told them they were at-risk for heart disease prior to a heart attack, according to a new study.

Rare warrior tomb filled with Bronze Age wealth and weapons discovered Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:21 PM PDT Archaeologists have discovered a Bronze Age warrior's tomb in southwestern Greece filled with more than 1,400 objects: jewels, weapons and armor, as well as bronze, silver and gold vessels.

Study of inner ear development hints at way to restore hearing and balance Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:20 PM PDT These genes, or others in the same pathway, could be promising targets for efforts to treat hearing loss or balance problems by regenerating hair cells, the researchers suggest.

Declines in whales, fish, seabirds and large animals disrupt Earth's nutrient cycle Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:20 PM PDT In the past, whales, giant land mammals, and other animals played a vital role in keeping the planet fertile by transporting nutrients via their feces. However, massive declines and extinctions of many of these animals has deeply damaged this planetary nutrient recycling system, threatening fisheries and ecosystems on land, a team of scientists reports.

Sheet music for creating the artificial sense of touch Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:18 PM PDT A new study led by neuroscientists brings us one step closer to building prosthetic limbs for humans that re-create a sense of touch through a direct interface with the brain.

'Love hormone' helps produce 'bliss molecules' to boost pleasure of social interactions Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:18 PM PDT The hormone oxytocin, which has been associated with interpersonal bonding, may enhance the pleasure of social interactions by stimulating production of marijuana-like neurotransmitters in the brain, according to a new study. The research provides the first link between oxytocin -- dubbed the 'love hormone' -- and anandamide, which has been called the 'bliss molecule' for its role in activating cannabinoid receptors in brain cells to heighten motivation and happiness.

Loss of large land mammals could change landscapes forever Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:17 PM PDT Paleontologists have looked at the environmental changes that occurred in North and South America after large megafauna went extinct over the past 15,000 years, and found long-lasting impacts. Particularly in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, the loss of mammoths and mastodons affected forests and grasslands and changed the small mammal populations. Similar lasting changes could result from the extinction of large land animals today, in particular African elephants.

Elephants boost tree losses in South Africa's largest savanna reserve Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:17 PM PDT Protected areas, such as nature reserves and national parks, play a crucial role in sheltering wildlife, such as African elephants, from hunting and habitat destruction. But it's important that conservation managers understand how the vegetation in these natural protected zones is affected by the population growth spurred by this animal safeguarding. New remote sensing research shows that elephants are one of the leading causes of fallen trees in South Africa's Kruger National Park.

Ancient babies boost Bering land bridge layover Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:17 PM PDT Scientists deciphered maternal genetic material from two babies buried together in Alaska 11,500 years ago. They found the infants had different mothers and were the northernmost known kin to two lineages of Native Americans found farther south throughout North and South America. The study supports the theory that Native Americans descended from people who migrated from Asia to Bering land bridge, then spent up to 10,000 years there before moving into the Americas beginning at least 15,000 years ago.

Chemists find better way to pack natural gas into fuel tanks Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:14 PM PDT Increasing numbers of natural gas-powered trucks and buses are hitting the road, but a major disadvantage is the bulky equipment needed to store compressed NG or to keep liquefied NG cold. Now chemists have developed an innovative new storage material for methane that could lessen the hassle of filling up with NG, and extend the range of such vehicles. The material is a flexible metal organic framework that expands when methane is pumped in.

Common chemical makeup at largest cosmic scales Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:14 PM PDT A new survey of hot, X-ray-emitting gas in the Virgo galaxy cluster shows that the elements needed to make stars, planets and people were evenly distributed across millions of light-years early in cosmic history, more than 10 billion years ago.

Large, violent animal packs shaped the ecosystems of the Pleistocene epoch Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:14 PM PDT Intense, violent attacks by large packs of some of the world's biggest carnivores -- including extinct lions much larger than those of today, and sabertooth cats -- limited the population sizes of mammoths, mastodons and other species, and prevented widespread habitat destruction in the Pleistocene Epoch.

Ancient permafrost quickly transforms to carbon dioxide upon thaw Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:14 PM PDT Researchers have quantified how rapidly ancient permafrost decomposes upon thawing and how much carbon dioxide is produced in the process.

CRISPR brings precise control to gene expression Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:14 PM PDT Previous studies have shown that the emerging gene-editing technology called CRISPR can have off-target effects. A new study shows that CRISPR can be used with a high degree of specificity to deliver proteins controlling DNA packaging, in effect exerting epigenetic controls that alter gene expression without changing the coding portions of DNA.

Extinction of Pleistocene herbivores induced major vegetation and landscape changes Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:13 PM PDT The extinction of large herbivores such as mammoths could explain massive prehistoric changes in vegetation and landscape structure. But it has wider implications, explaining more frequent fires in modern-day ecosystems for instance.

Surgery proving option for more pancreatic cancer patients, expert says Posted: 26 Oct 2015 11:03 AM PDT Pancreatic cancer has long proved the least survivable of the most common forms of cancer, in part because it tends to spread before symptoms appear. Surgery has offered the longest remissions, but for many people with advanced cancer, an operation wasn't an option. Now, thanks to improvements in chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, even this most recalcitrant of cancers is starting to budge, says a gastrointestinal surgeon.

In the French suburbs, Big Brother is watching you Posted: 26 Oct 2015 11:03 AM PDT Video surveillance, police presence and walls that stop people from socializing in the streets. In France this is reality for the residents of suburbs that are upgraded. New research shows that the people who have been tasked to improve these suburbs see them through their own filter of suspicion.

Entanglement at heart of ‘two-for-one’ fission in next-generation solar cells Posted: 26 Oct 2015 11:03 AM PDT An international team of scientists have observed how a mysterious quantum phenomenon in organic molecules takes place in real time, which could aid in the development of highly efficient solar cells.

New genetic discovery advances understanding of prostate cancer Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:23 AM PDT A new and important genetic discovery, which sheds light on how prostate cancers develop and spread, has been made by an international research team. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men.

Mechanism discovered that could lead to better ovarian cancer treatment Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:23 AM PDT Resistance to chemotherapy is a major problem for those suffering from ovarian cancer -- a problem that prevents a cure from a disease dubbed the 'silent killer.' Now researchers are giving patients new hope with recent findings that help pinpoint the mechanisms causing chemoresistance.

Molecular motor grows cell's microtubules Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT Motor proteins that pause at the ends of microtubules and produce pushing forces can also stimulate their growth, according to researchers. The proteins' function could be a critical component in understanding cell division and nerve branching and growth.

How ants and ketchup are alike: Both solid-like and liquid-like Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT Collections of ants have a remarkable ability to change shapes and tasks based on the demands of their environment. When floodwaters hit, they self-assemble and form rafts to stay alive. They can also use their bodies to build bridges and span gaps. What are the properties of these ant aggregations that allow for this wide range of abilities? New research says it's because the insects are actually liquid-like and solid-like simultaneously.

Scientists uncover signal for when a pregnant woman is about to go into labor Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT A cellular signal in the amniotic fluid around the fetus has been found to build up when a pregnant woman is about to go into labor, say scientists. The researchers used amniotic fluid samples from 50 women in labor and 51 women at the end of their pregnancy but not in yet in labor. They also acquired demographic information from patient interviews and medical information from their medical records.

Insulin cells determine weight-loss surgery success rate Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:52 AM PDT The ability to produce insulin is pivotal to the success of weight-loss surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes, scientists have found. Their study provides a better point of departure for advise and determining which patients will benefit from surgery.

Much needed update on magnetic tracking in cell therapy Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:52 AM PDT The latest advances in magnetic particle tracking in cell therapy, a potentially groundbreaking strategy in disease treatment and regenerative medicine, are outlined in a new article.

Wanted: Fair players and a climate leader Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:52 AM PDT An international team has devised a method allowing countries to choose their own method of 'fair' emissions cuts, effectively creating a roadmap out of the climate negotiation gridlock.

New microscope helps scientists see the big picture Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:52 AM PDT A new microscope is giving scientists a clearer, more comprehensive view of biological processes as they unfold in living animals. The microscope produces images of entire organisms, such as a zebrafish or fruit fly embryo, with enough resolution in all three dimensions that each cell appears as a distinct structure.

Unraveling the complex, intertwined electron phases in a superconductor Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:51 AM PDT A key arrangement of electrons that may impede superconductivity in cuprates has now been characterized by scientists. Understanding this 'electron density wave' may lead to ways to suppress or remove it to induce superconductivity, possibly even at room temperature.

Chemical probe to dissect role of potential cancer-causing proteins Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:50 AM PDT Scientists have created a highly specific and well-characterized chemical probe which can switch off two important proteins implicated in cancer -- shedding new light on the role these proteins play in driving cancer cell proliferation.

If a major economy takes the lead, warming could be limited to 2°C Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:50 AM PDT Though most countries around the globe agree that warming must be limited to 2 degrees Celsius to avoid the raft of climate risks, they clash about who should do what to reach this target. Hence the issue of allocating greenhouse-gas emissions reductions will be key for the outcome of the world climate summit COP21 in Paris. Scientists now found what amount of emissions reductions it takes for a major economy to lead out of the climate gridlock.

Capacity to regenerate body parts may be the primitive state for all four-legged vertebrates Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:50 AM PDT A team of paleontologists shows in a new study of fossil amphibians that the extraordinary regenerative capacities of modern salamanders are likely an ancient feature of four-legged vertebrates that was subsequently lost in the course of evolution.

Research explains limits of cancer immunotherapy drugs Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:50 AM PDT Molecular changes within a tumor have been revealed by a team of scientists that suggests that they are are preventing immunotherapy drugs from killing off the cancer.

New testosterone guideline to help Canadian physicians diagnose, treat patients Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:50 AM PDT Controversy exists about how to manage patients with low testosterone, and many health care professionals are reluctant to treat testosterone deficiency, but a new guideline aims to provide a road map to help diagnose and treat this health condition. The guideline targets primary care physicians, general internists, endocrinologists, geriatricians and urologists as well as psychiatrists, nurse practitioners and pharmacists who deal with men at or beyond middle age.

Traces of enormous solar storms in the ice of Greenland and Antarctica Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:21 AM PDT Solar storms and the particles they release result in spectacular phenomena such as auroras, but they can also pose a serious risk to our society. In extreme cases they have caused major power outages, and they could also lead to breakdowns of satellites and communication systems. According to a new study solar storms could be much more powerful than previously assumed. Researchers have now confirmed that Earth was hit by two extreme solar storms more than 1000 years ago.

Pupils learn poorly when using most computer programs Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:20 AM PDT  "Most digital learning tools used in schools are unsatisfactory and only test the knowledge the pupils already have", says Björn Sjödén, who has reviewed a large number of computer programs in his doctoral thesis "What Makes Good Educational Software?"

Products expectant mothers should avoid during first trimester Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:19 AM PDT Expectant mothers in their first trimester should avoid certain cosmetics, cleaning agents and medicines, to protect the developing fetal brain from chemicals that can trigger autism, health researchers advise.

Researchers discover an epilepsy switch Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:19 AM PDT Scientists have decoded a central signal cascade associated with epileptic seizures. If the researchers blocked a central switch in epileptic mice, the frequency and severity of the seizures decreased. Using a novel technology, it was possible to observe the processes prior to the occurrence of epileptic seizures in living animals.

Snake venom helps hydrogels stop the bleeding Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:19 AM PDT A hydrogel infused with snake venom may be the best material to stop bleeding quickly, even in the presence of anti-coagulants, according to scientists.

Simpler method for measuring viral infections in bees Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:19 AM PDT Scientists have made it easier for beekeepers to conclude how serious the pressure of viral infections in their bee colonies is. Based on observations in Danish bee colonies, the scientists have grouped the incidence of viral infections into four categories that can be used instead of a sliding scale to describe viral infection pressure.

What was killing the young right whales? New research finds a suspect Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:14 AM PDT Scientists found a close relationship between a sudden surge in whale deaths at Peninsula Valdes, Argentina, and the toxic algae Pseudo-nitzschia. The finding demonstrates that some of the largest creatures in the ocean can be vulnerable to algal blooms projected to increase with climate change.

Response to environmental change depends on variation in corals, algae partnerships Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:14 AM PDT Some corals are more protective than others of their partner algae in harsh environmental conditions, new research reveals. This individual variation among corals could reflect a greater capacity than currently is recognized to adapt to changing ocean conditions brought about by climate change.

Two mutations are better than one Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:14 AM PDT Two wrongs don't make a right, but in the case of genetic mutations, having two mutations in the same gene could be better than having either one individually. Researchers found that two separate genetic modifications each greatly reduced the function of the myosin muscle protein in fruit flies, but flies with both mutations had nearly three-quarters of the function restored. The findings may help researchers better understand and treat heart muscle disease in humans.

Maintaining blood pressure levels measured before entering OR may improve outcomes Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT When a patient arrives in the operating room (O.R.) for surgery, one of the first things a physician will do is take his or her blood pressure, a "baseline" measurement used throughout the procedure. However, a new study has found that blood pressure taken before the patient enters the O.R. may produce more accurate measurements and should be used to determine baseline blood pressure.

Lung cancer specialist brings new treatments, hope to new Mexicans Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT This year, more than 158,000 Americans are expected to die from lung cancer. That's a staggering number: it's more than all the deaths expected from breast, prostate, colon, rectum, bladder and skin cancers combined. But this grim statistic only spurs one lung cancer doctor and scientist to work harder toward a cure.

Harbingers of Halloween spin smart system for scientists to mimic, create new products Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT Researchers found that the webs of sun-soaked spiders were far more resistant to UVB rays than the webs of those that hunt in the dark or shade, perhaps indicating an important adaptive trait.

Three-minute test detects common form of dementia that's hard to diagnose Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT Although Lewy Body disease (LBD) is the second-most-common degenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease (AD), it's not exactly a household name. A fast, new test can assess clinical signs and symptoms of this disease, and discriminate between AD and LBD with 96.8 percent accuracy.

Study reveals significant global variation in the definition of the term 'rare disease' Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT An expansive global review answers a basic scientific question, "How do you describe a 'rare disease?'" A broad international group of researchers examined the similarities and differences in rare disease definitions and prevalence thresholds -- across geography and stakeholders.

Cellular stress management in people and plants Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:32 AM PDT Bioscientists have discovered the function of a fundamental biological mechanism. Their findings are significant for the stress biology of human cells as well as the development of agricultural crops that are highly resistant to their primary stressor, drought.

Siberian jays can recognize unfamiliar, distant relatives Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:32 AM PDT Can animals recognize distantly related, unfamiliar individuals of the same species? Siberian jays possess this ability as evolutionary biologists recently could demonstrate for the first time. This bird species belongs to the crow family and is able to accurately assess the degree of kinship to unfamiliar individuals. This ability provides advantages when sharing food and other forms of cooperation.

Succesful eHealth depends on focus on user and context, says expert Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:30 AM PDT Human-centered design can greatly stimulate the improvement of safe patient care through technology, concludes one expert. She researched the ways in which eHealth solutions can contribute to increasing the quality of the work of healthcare professionals such as nurses: more efficient and safer patient care.

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