ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Global warming may affect pesticide effectiveness
• Robot adds new twist to antenna measurements and calibrations
• Super-absorbent material soaks up oil spills
• Income-based school assignment policy influences diversity, achievement
• What's behind a tarantula's blue hue?
• Climate change likely to increase black carbon input to the Arctic Ocean
• Unassuming 'Swiss Army knife'-like protein key to new cancer drug's therapeutic action
• Retinal nerve cells grown in the lab
• Tracing a path toward neuronal cell death
• Climate can grind mountains faster than they can be rebuilt
• Bees aren't the be all and end all for crop pollination, study suggests
• Looking Back 3.8 Billion Years Into the Root of the 'Tree of Life'
• Newly evolved, uniquely human gene variants protect older adults from cognitive decline
• Kids from high socioeconomic background more likely to rely on parental help as adults
• New phase of carbon discovered: Making diamonds at room temperature
• First outcomes report from novel heart surgery registry shows excellent results for TAVR
• Strolling salamanders provide clues on how animals evolved to move from water to land
• Physicists show skyrmions can exist in ferroelectrics
• Rare fossil of a horned dinosaur found from 'lost continent'
• Liquid foam: Plastic, elastic and fluid
• How funny is this word? The 'snunkoople' effect
• Cage the fly: Walk-in field cages to assess mating compatibility in pest fruit flies
• New membrane may solve fresh water shortages
• Very large volcanic eruptions could lead to ice sheet instability
• Red clover genome to help restore sustainable farming
• Shining light on microbial growth and death inside our guts
• Immune cells make appendix 'silent hero' of digestive health
• Simulating the jet streams and anticyclones of Jupiter and Saturn
• Missing link found between turbulence in collapsing star and hypernova, gamma-ray burst
• Advanced new camera can measure greenhouse gases
• Benefits and trade-offs of low-carbon energy
• Large-scale hydroelectric dam in Yukon would be a major environmental concern
• Promising new antimicrobials could fight drug-resistant MRSA infection
• Could fish have consciousness? 'Emotional fever' experiment suggests they might
• Risk-takers are smarter, according to a new study
• Moonlighting molecules: Finding new uses for old enzymes
• Method to prevent lethal bone marrow transplant complication discovered
• Bonobos documented for first time using ancient pre-agricultural tools, breaking bones, and using spears as attack weapons
• Runaway ice loss in Antarctica
• Scientists use CRISPR technology to edit crop genes, subsequent generations contain no transgenes
• Will our cultural heritage stand up to freak rains?
• Unexpected activity on the Moon
• Folding your genes: New discovery sheds light on disease risk
• Wearable equipment supports human motion where and when needed: Easier, faster, stronger, and more enjoyable
• Not all Canadians feeling the heat of climate change
• Threats against children during the separation process for women in abusive relationships
• Aspirin targets key protein in neurodegenerative diseases
• DNA repair protein BRCA1 implicated in cognitive function and dementia
• Tiny octopods catalyze bright ideas
• Parental absence affects brain development in children
• Medicaid expansion improves breast cancer screening for low-income women
• Imaging identifies cartilage regeneration in long-distance runners
• MRI reveals weight loss protects knees
• Reduced blood flow seen in brain after clinical recovery of acute concussion

Global warming may affect pesticide effectiveness Posted: 30 Nov 2015 03:25 PM PST The effectiveness of permethrin, an important mosquito-fighting insecticide, may be impaired by global warming, according to a recent study. People involved in mosquito-control efforts should take temperature into account when choosing a pest-control product.

Robot adds new twist to antenna measurements and calibrations Posted: 30 Nov 2015 03:25 PM PST Researchers have been pioneering antenna measurement methods for decades, but a new robot may be the ultimate innovation, extending measurements to higher frequencies while characterizing antennas faster and more easily than ever before.

Super-absorbent material soaks up oil spills Posted: 30 Nov 2015 03:25 PM PST In hopes of limiting the disastrous environmental effects of massive oil spills, materials scientists have teamed up to manufacture and test a new material, called a boron nitride nanosheet, that can absorb up to 33 times its weight in oils and organic solvents -- a trait that could make it an important technology for quickly mitigating these costly accidents.

Income-based school assignment policy influences diversity, achievement Posted: 30 Nov 2015 03:22 PM PST When public schools in Wake County, North Carolina switched from a school assignment policy based on race to one based on socioeconomic status, schools became slightly more segregated but the achievement gap lessened, according to new research.

What's behind a tarantula's blue hue? Posted: 30 Nov 2015 03:22 PM PST Researchers have found that many species of tarantulas have independently evolved the ability to grow blue hair using nanostructures in their exoskeletons, rather than pigments. The study is the first to show that individual species evolved separately to make the same shade of a non-iridescent color, one that doesn't change when viewed at different angles.

Climate change likely to increase black carbon input to the Arctic Ocean Posted: 30 Nov 2015 03:22 PM PST The levels of black carbon in Arctic rivers has been determined by researchers who found that the input of black carbon to the Arctic Ocean is likely to increase with global warming.

Unassuming 'Swiss Army knife'-like protein key to new cancer drug's therapeutic action Posted: 30 Nov 2015 01:34 PM PST When preliminary tests show that a new drug has remarkable effectiveness against a lethal illness, everyone wants to know how it works. A team reports a surprising mechanism through which an important new drug against leukemia, JQ1, exerts its therapeutic effect.

Retinal nerve cells grown in the lab Posted: 30 Nov 2015 01:34 PM PST A method to efficiently turn human stem cells into retinal ganglion cells, the type of nerve cells located within the retina that transmit visual signals from the eye to the brain, has been discovered by researchers.

Tracing a path toward neuronal cell death Posted: 30 Nov 2015 01:34 PM PST A new genetic model has been developed that is yielding new insights into what happens when astrocytes go awry. Damage to astrocytes -- star-shaped cells found in the brain and spinal cord -- is found in many neurodegenerative conditions, but it's been unclear exactly what role astrocyte dysfunction plays in the development of disease.

Climate can grind mountains faster than they can be rebuilt Posted: 30 Nov 2015 01:34 PM PST For the first time, researchers have attempted to measure all the material leaving and entering a mountain range over more than a million years, and discovered that erosion caused by glaciation during ice ages can, in the right circumstances, wear down mountains faster than plate tectonics can build them.

Bees aren't the be all and end all for crop pollination, study suggests Posted: 30 Nov 2015 01:32 PM PST Farmers who used pesticides that spared bees but sacrificed killed other insects might be ignoring important sources of crop pollination, according to an Australian-led international scientific study. A plant ecologist said many crops -- including mangoes, custard apples, kiwi fruit, coffee and canola -- depended on non-bee insect pollinators such as flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, wasps, ants, and thrips.

Looking Back 3.8 Billion Years Into the Root of the 'Tree of Life' Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:22 PM PST Researchers are tapping information found in the cells of all life on Earth, and using it to trace life's evolution.

Newly evolved, uniquely human gene variants protect older adults from cognitive decline Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:22 PM PST Many human gene variants have evolved specifically to protect older adults against neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, thus preserving their contributions to society, report researchers.

Kids from high socioeconomic background more likely to rely on parental help as adults Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:20 PM PST More than 40 percent of young adults no longer live with their parents, but still receive at least some financial support from mom and dad -- and this is particularly true for grown children from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, shows a new report.

New phase of carbon discovered: Making diamonds at room temperature Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:20 PM PST Scientists have discovered a new phase of solid carbon, called Q-carbon, which is distinct from the known phases of graphite and diamond. They have also developed a technique for using Q-carbon to make diamond-related structures at room temperature and at ambient atmospheric pressure in air.

First outcomes report from novel heart surgery registry shows excellent results for TAVR Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:20 PM PST Four years after its approval in the United States, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) continues to evolve and demonstrate positive outcomes for patients with aortic stenosis, a common heart problem, according to a new report.

Strolling salamanders provide clues on how animals evolved to move from water to land Posted: 30 Nov 2015 11:13 AM PST Around 390 million years ago, the first vertebrate animals moved from water onto land, necessitating changes in their musculoskeletal systems to permit a terrestrial life. Forelimbs and hind limbs of the first tetrapods evolved to support more weight. But what specific mechanisms drove changes in bone function? The tiger salamander might provide some clues.

Physicists show skyrmions can exist in ferroelectrics Posted: 30 Nov 2015 10:53 AM PST New theoretical physics research shows that swirling particles known as skyrmions, which have been found in magnetic systems, can also exist in ferroelectrics.

Rare fossil of a horned dinosaur found from 'lost continent' Posted: 30 Nov 2015 10:50 AM PST A rare fossil from eastern North America of a dog-sized horned dinosaur has been identified by a scientist. The fossil provides evidence of an east-west divide in North American dinosaur evolution.

Liquid foam: Plastic, elastic and fluid Posted: 30 Nov 2015 10:50 AM PST What differentiates complex fluids from mere fluids? What makes them unique is that they are neither solid nor liquid. Among such complex fluids are foams. They are used as a model to understand the mechanisms underlying complex fluids flow. Now, a team of physicists has gained new insights into predicting how complex fluids react under stretching conditions due to the interplay between elasticity, plasticity and flow.

How funny is this word? The 'snunkoople' effect Posted: 30 Nov 2015 10:18 AM PST How do you quantify something as complex and personal as humor? Mathematicians have now developed a mathematical method of doing just that -- and it might not be quite as personal as we think.

Cage the fly: Walk-in field cages to assess mating compatibility in pest fruit flies Posted: 30 Nov 2015 10:00 AM PST Fruit flies studies on mating compatibility have been examined to assess the usefulness of walk-in field cages in sexual behavior research within fruit fly species complexes and recognition of taxonomically misplaced flies. As a result, horticultural trade and pest management are to be facilitated. The use of pheromones for the purposes of species differentiation have also been evaluated.

New membrane may solve fresh water shortages Posted: 30 Nov 2015 10:00 AM PST Researchers have developed a technology that improves the removal of salt from seawater, a breakthrough that may alleviate the increasing demand for fresh water in some countries.

Very large volcanic eruptions could lead to ice sheet instability Posted: 30 Nov 2015 10:00 AM PST Massive volcanic eruptions could cause localized warming that might destabilize some of the world's biggest ice sheets, according to new research.

Red clover genome to help restore sustainable farming Posted: 30 Nov 2015 10:00 AM PST The DNA of red clover has been sequenced and assembled to help breeders improve the beneficial traits of this important forage crop. Red clover's chief benefits (alongside soil improvement) is to provide a protein-rich livestock feed -- it also boosts omega-3 fatty acids in ruminant milk. Compared to white clover and other legumes, red clover has high levels of an enzyme that causes its' protein to be digested more slowly and effectively -- it's more nutritious per mouthful.

Shining light on microbial growth and death inside our guts Posted: 30 Nov 2015 10:00 AM PST Population growth rates of the microbes that live inside mammalian gastrointestinal tracts can now be accurately measured, according to a new method reported by a team of scientists for the first time.

Immune cells make appendix 'silent hero' of digestive health Posted: 30 Nov 2015 10:00 AM PST Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are crucial for protecting against bacterial infection in people with compromised immune systems, report investigators. Their work shows that a network of immune cells helps the appendix to play a pivotal role in maintaining health of the digestive system, supporting the theory that the appendix isn't redundant.

Simulating the jet streams and anticyclones of Jupiter and Saturn Posted: 30 Nov 2015 09:52 AM PST A researcher has successfully generated 3-D simulations of deep jet streams and storms on Jupiter and Saturn, helping to satiate our eternal quest for knowledge of planetary dynamics. The results facilitate a deeper understanding of planetary weather and provide clues to the dynamics of Earth's weather patterns evidenced in jet streams and ocean currents.

Missing link found between turbulence in collapsing star and hypernova, gamma-ray burst Posted: 30 Nov 2015 09:52 AM PST Extremely bright supernovas, called hypernovae, have been linked to gamma-ray bursts, but theorists have struggled to explain how a collapsing massive star could produce a magnetic field a million billion times greater than that of the sun, which is necessary to blow off the outer portions of the star and accelerate charged particles to speeds needed to produce gamma rays. A new supercomputer simulation shows how this happens.

Advanced new camera can measure greenhouse gases Posted: 30 Nov 2015 09:50 AM PST A camera so advanced that it can photograph and film methane in the air around us is now presented by a team of researchers. It can be an important part of the efforts to measure and monitor greenhouse gases.

Benefits and trade-offs of low-carbon energy Posted: 30 Nov 2015 09:50 AM PST Policymakers, industry and government officials will have to invest US $2.5 trillion for electricity generation over the next 20 years. A new report presents the environmental costs and benefits linked to different renewable energy sources, and makes one thing abundantly clear: anything is better than coal.

Large-scale hydroelectric dam in Yukon would be a major environmental concern Posted: 30 Nov 2015 08:37 AM PST A new report warns of the potential for major negative impacts on fish and fish habitat caused by large hydroelectric dams, like that currently under evaluation through the Next Generation Hydro initiative. The report, which focuses on north-western Canada, notes that substantial destruction of fish habitats caused by such a dam, along with additional threats and effects will be either very expensive or impossible to mitigate.

Promising new antimicrobials could fight drug-resistant MRSA infection Posted: 30 Nov 2015 08:37 AM PST A novel class of antimicrobials that inhibits the function of a key disease-causing component of bacteria could be effective in fighting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one of the major drug-resistant bacterial pathogens.

Could fish have consciousness? 'Emotional fever' experiment suggests they might Posted: 30 Nov 2015 08:35 AM PST Researchers have observed an increase in body temperature of between two and four degrees in zebrafish, when these are subjected to stressful situations. This phenomenon is known as 'emotional fever,' as it is related to what animals feel in the face of an external stimulus.

Risk-takers are smarter, according to a new study Posted: 30 Nov 2015 08:35 AM PST Do you often take chances and yet still land on your feet? Then you probably have a well-developed brain.

Moonlighting molecules: Finding new uses for old enzymes Posted: 30 Nov 2015 08:11 AM PST Researchers have identified a potentially significant new application for a well-known human enzyme, which may have implications for treating respiratory diseases such as asthma.

Method to prevent lethal bone marrow transplant complication discovered Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:49 AM PST Researchers discover method to prevent graft-versus-host disease, a dangerous and common complication of bone marrow transplants.

Bonobos documented for first time using ancient pre-agricultural tools, breaking bones, and using spears as attack weapons Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:49 AM PST Biologists have documented groups of bonobos performing complex actions to extract food -- a characteristic that has hitherto been regarded as an exclusive evolutionary advantage of archaic pre-humans.

Runaway ice loss in Antarctica Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:46 AM PST By studying rocks at different elevations beside the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, scientists have concluded that a period of rapid glacier thinning occurred in the recent geological past, and persisted for several centuries.

Scientists use CRISPR technology to edit crop genes, subsequent generations contain no transgenes Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:46 AM PST CRISPR gene-editing is allowing rapid scientific advances in many fields, including human health and now it has been shown that crop research can also benefit from this latest exciting technology.

Will our cultural heritage stand up to freak rains? Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:46 AM PST Using an old 19th century apartment block in Oslo as a case study, researchers are looking for conservation measures for heritage buildings. How can we make them watertight, insulated and protected against future climate change?

Unexpected activity on the Moon Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:46 AM PST The lunar space environment is much more active than previously assumed. The solar wind is reflected from the surface and crustal magnetic fields of the moon which has effects on for instance lunar water levels.

Folding your genes: New discovery sheds light on disease risk Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:45 AM PST New research has revealed how gaps between genes interact to influence the risk of acquiring diseases such as arthritis and type 1 diabetes.

Wearable equipment supports human motion where and when needed: Easier, faster, stronger, and more enjoyable Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:45 AM PST A new model of pneumatic muscle and an active type of assistive equipment incorporating this pneumatic muscle has been developed. This wearable equipment, called the Unplugged Powered Suit (UPS), supports human movement without requiring any electronic devices and tanks because it employs a newly developed pneumatic muscle named Pneumatic Gel Muscle (PGM) as an actuator. The UPS improves the quality of life of not only elderly individuals but also healthy people who enjoy sports activities.

Not all Canadians feeling the heat of climate change Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:45 AM PST While Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Paris hammering out the details of the global fight against climate change, a new study shows that Canadian attitudes are somewhat ambivalent. The report examines public perceptions of this complex policy problem.

Threats against children during the separation process for women in abusive relationships Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:40 AM PST Mothers who separate from their abusive partners are four times more likely to report threats to take or to harm their children than those who stay in the relationship, a new study has found.

Aspirin targets key protein in neurodegenerative diseases Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:40 AM PST The active ingredient in aspirin blocks an enzyme that triggers cell death in several neurodegenerative diseases. More potent forms of salicylic aspirin exist, which may provide treatments for these diseases.

DNA repair protein BRCA1 implicated in cognitive function and dementia Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:40 AM PST Researchers have shown for the first time that the protein BRCA1 is required for normal learning and memory and is depleted by Alzheimer's disease. BRCA1 is a key protein involved in DNA repair, and mutations that impair its function increase the risk for breast and ovarian cancer. The new study demonstrates that Alzheimer's disease is associated with a depletion of BRCA1 in neurons and that BRCA1 depletion can cause cognitive deficits.

Tiny octopods catalyze bright ideas Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:40 AM PST Researchers demonstrate plasmonic nanoparticles can support catalysts without losing their beneficial optical properties. Such alloys could make industrial processes more efficient or enable sun-driven chemical reactions.

Parental absence affects brain development in children Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:40 AM PST Researchers have found that children who have been left without direct parental care for extended periods of time show larger gray matter volumes in the brain, according to a new study.

Medicaid expansion improves breast cancer screening for low-income women Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:40 AM PST Low-income women in Medicaid expansion states in the US are more likely to have a breast screening performed than those in non-expansion states, according to new research.

Imaging identifies cartilage regeneration in long-distance runners Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:40 AM PST Using a mobile MRI truck, researchers followed runners for 4,500 kilometers through Europe to study the physical limits and adaptation of athletes over a 64-day period, according to new research.

MRI reveals weight loss protects knees Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:39 AM PST Obese people who lose a substantial amount of weight can significantly slow the degeneration of their knee cartilage, according to new research.

Reduced blood flow seen in brain after clinical recovery of acute concussion Posted: 30 Nov 2015 05:39 AM PST Some athletes who experience sports-related concussions have reduced blood flow in parts of their brains even after clinical recovery, according to new research. The results suggest a role for MRI in determining when to allow concussed athletes to return to competition.

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