ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Proven one-step process to convert CO2 and water directly into liquid hydrocarbon fuel
• Almond joy: Eating just a handful a day boosts diet health, study shows
• Species groups follow patterns reacting to climate change on US Northeast Shelf
• New theorem helps reveal tuberculosis' secret
• Time of day can impact spray
• Researchers advance understanding of turbulence that drains heat from fusion reactors
• Bat 'super immunity' could help protect people
• Some distractions while driving are more risky than others, researchers say
• Antarctic ice sheet is more vulnerable to carbon dioxide than expected
• Tracking prejudices in the brain
• Researchers use Botox-like injection to treat runners, cyclists with knee pain
• Which discipline or reward is best for your child?
• Earth science: Remote predictions of fluid flow in fractures possible with new finding
• Toddler screening essential for autism detection despite national task force's reservation
• Fungi are at the root of tropical forest diversity, or lack thereof, study finds
• Fish of dinosaur era with unique 'hook-shaped sail' on its back
• Intense deep-ocean turbulence in equatorial Pacific could help drive global circulation
• Non-destructive technique measures oxygen levels in 3-D cells used for toxicity testing
• Charging electric vehicles at night can cause more harm than good, says study
• Graphic images may not scare smokers off cigarettes, says study
• The little things: Gratitude and shared laughter strengthen romantic partnerships
• Phase 2 clinical trial to treat rare hereditary muscle disease shows promise
• Dried plums provide protection from bone loss due to radiation, study shows
• New surgical technique improves biological hip joint replacement
• Throwaway culture can include friendships, researcher says
• Physicists discover new laws governing 'developmental biology of materials'
• Study of tundra soil demonstrates vulnerability of ecosystem to climate warming
• Crystal, magnetic structure of multiferroic hexagonal manganite
• Spanish conquest left its imprint on men's genes in Panama
• Gulf of Mexico historic shipwrecks help scientists unlock mysteries of deep-sea ecosystems
• Zebrafish embryos exposed to atrazine pass on health problems to their young
• One drug used to prevent HIV transmission during pregnancy shows evidence of developmental effects
• How fish control microbes through their gills
• Nearly all US forests threatened by drought, climate change
• Differences found in pain coping between black, white Americans
• Low-carbon policies could prevent up to 175,000 US deaths by 2030
• Meningitis A nearly eliminated in Africa through vaccination, reaching over 235 million people
• Seeing cancer in 3-D
• Little diet pain, big health gain
• Extinct glyptodonts really were gigantic armadillos, ancient DNA shows
• Soap bubbles' secrets go pop
• Method to safely share password data
• High death rates from unnatural causes for male lions in Cecil the Lion's park
• Worm study may resolve discrepancies in research on aging
• Supply of GPs, detection of hypertension in England associated with premature mortality rates
• Tough social issues provide a challenge for companies and researchers
• Quantum processes control accurately to several attoseconds
• Crafting a better T cell for immunotherapy
• Researchers uncover potential target for treating autoimmune disease
• Quantum phase transition underpins superconductivity in copper oxides
• Researchers trace peanut crop back to its Bolivian roots
• Scientists pave way for new generation of superbug drugs
• Newly discovered HIV genome modification may put a twist on vaccine and drug design
• Home health care, post-acute care in a facility infrequent for hospitalized kids
• The Charlie Sheen effect on HIV prevention
• Atmospheric sulfate particles reduced, but as acidic as ever
• Promising respiratory drug focus of new clinical trial for parkinson's disease
• Goods targeted in thefts 'change with market values'
• Multiple cosmic impacts 790,000 years ago
• Sea level mapped from space with GPS reflections

Proven one-step process to convert CO2 and water directly into liquid hydrocarbon fuel Posted: 22 Feb 2016 07:08 PM PST Chemists and engineers have proven that concentrated light, heat and high pressures can drive the one-step conversion of carbon dioxide and water directly into useable liquid hydrocarbon fuels.

Almond joy: Eating just a handful a day boosts diet health, study shows Posted: 22 Feb 2016 07:08 PM PST Just add a handful of almonds: a University of Florida study suggests that improving one's diet can be as simple as that.

Species groups follow patterns reacting to climate change on US Northeast Shelf Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:57 PM PST Researchers studying groups of species with similar depth and temperature distribution have found that those groups have similar responses to the effects of climate change. Interactions between individual species in those groups, however, may be affected by the amount of available habitat, predator-prey relationships, and competition for food resulting from shifts in range and distribution. The study evaluated the pace and magnitude of climate change effects for nearly 70 demersal or bottom-dwelling species on the US Northeast Shelf.

New theorem helps reveal tuberculosis' secret Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:57 PM PST Researchers seek to streamline the analysis of complex biochemical networks and to reveal inconsistencies in biological data. Their theorem helps to uncover hidden drivers of non-monotonic responses to monotonic stimuli in tuberculosis bacteria.

Time of day can impact spray Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:57 PM PST Some herbicides are more effective when applied at noon compared to early morning or late evening applications, new research indicates. Researchers say the results have long-term implications for weed management.

Researchers advance understanding of turbulence that drains heat from fusion reactors Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:56 PM PST Physicists at the US Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory appear to have gained important new insights into what affects plasma turbulence, which can impact the leakage of heat from the fusion plasma within tokamaks. Understanding how fusion plasmas lose heat is crucial because the more a plasma is able to retain its heat the more efficient a fusion reactor can be.

Bat 'super immunity' could help protect people Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:56 PM PST For the first time, researchers have uncovered a unique ability in bats which allows them to carry but remain unaffected by lethal diseases.

Some distractions while driving are more risky than others, researchers say Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:56 PM PST Drivers more than double their crash risk for more than half of their trips when they choose to engage in distracting activities.

Antarctic ice sheet is more vulnerable to carbon dioxide than expected Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:56 PM PST Results from a new climate reconstruction of how Antarctica's ice sheets responded during the last period when atmospheric carbon dioxide reached levels like those expected to occur in about 30 years, plus sediment core findings reported in a companion paper, suggest that the ice sheets are more vulnerable to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide than previously thought.

Tracking prejudices in the brain Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:18 PM PST We do not always say what we think: we like to hide certain prejudices, sometimes even from ourselves. But unconscious prejudices become visible with tests, because we need a longer time if we must associate unpleasant things with positive terms. Researchers now show that additional processes in the brain are not responsible for this, but some of them simply take longer.

Researchers use Botox-like injection to treat runners, cyclists with knee pain Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:18 PM PST A painful knee condition that affects more than one in eight active people has been treated effectively with a botulinum toxin injection and physiotherapy.

Which discipline or reward is best for your child? Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:18 PM PST A new study lends insight into how children react to discipline practices used by parents and teachers, and sheds light on their view of what's fair.

Earth science: Remote predictions of fluid flow in fractures possible with new finding Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:16 PM PST A team of researchers has created a way to quickly and remotely evaluate fluid flow in subsurface fractures that could impact aquifers, oil and gas extraction, sequestration of greenhouse gases or nuclear waste and remediation of leaked contaminants.

Toddler screening essential for autism detection despite national task force's reservation Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:16 PM PST Given that earlier diagnoses have been found to be more beneficial for treating children on the autism spectrum, a team of researchers believes that universal screening in 18-24 month-old children remains essential, despite a federal task force deciding there is insufficient evidence to recommend it.

Fungi are at the root of tropical forest diversity, or lack thereof, study finds Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:16 PM PST The types of beneficial fungi that associate with tree roots can alter the fate of a patch of tropical forest, boosting plant diversity or, conversely, giving one tree species a distinct advantage over many others, researchers report.

Fish of dinosaur era with unique 'hook-shaped sail' on its back Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:16 PM PST A 90-million-year-old fossil fish, currently on display at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, turns out to be a new species. Research reveals the 5.5-foot-long fossil fish to possess a tuna-like body with a unique 'hook-shaped sail' on its back. The fish's new species name, Pentanogmius fritschi, is in honor of local amateur collector Joseph Fritsch.

Intense deep-ocean turbulence in equatorial Pacific could help drive global circulation Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:16 PM PST The findings could help solve an outstanding mystery about the global ocean conveyor belt and improve future climate forecasts.

Non-destructive technique measures oxygen levels in 3-D cells used for toxicity testing Posted: 22 Feb 2016 12:16 PM PST A non-destructive technique that can measure the concentration and consumption of oxygen in 3-D models of biological cells has been developed by scientists.

Charging electric vehicles at night can cause more harm than good, says study Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:45 AM PST While charging electric vehicles at night is more cost-effective, it increases air emissions, new research demonstrates.

Graphic images may not scare smokers off cigarettes, says study Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:45 AM PST Images of disease and suffering should move smokers to kick the habit – at least, that's the thinking behind graphic warning labels used on cigarette packages in much of the world, and maybe someday in the U.S.

The little things: Gratitude and shared laughter strengthen romantic partnerships Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:45 AM PST Research suggests gratitude and shared laughter strengthen romantic partnerships.

Phase 2 clinical trial to treat rare hereditary muscle disease shows promise Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:43 AM PST Researchers present the first clinical study that provides evidence that an extended-release sialic acid supplement may stabilize muscle strength in patients with GNE myopathy (GNEM), a rare hereditary, progressive, adult-onset muscle disease.

Dried plums provide protection from bone loss due to radiation, study shows Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:43 AM PST Dried plums are effective in protecting from bone loss due to iodized radiation, a new study shows. The study showed consuming dried plums can protect from ionizing radiation that increases oxidative damage in skeletal tissues and results in an imbalance in bone remodeling.

New surgical technique improves biological hip joint replacement Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:43 AM PST Traditional hip replacement procedures reduce pain and restore mobility. However, for younger, more active patients, an artificial hip has a limited lifetime and usually requires restricted activity. Now, researchers have tested a new biological technique that may provide better and longer-lasting joint function.

Throwaway culture can include friendships, researcher says Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:43 AM PST Are your BFFs as disposable as your razors? According to a new study, the mindset that objects are disposable extends to social ties.

Physicists discover new laws governing 'developmental biology of materials' Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:28 AM PST When one atom first meets another, the precise nature of that interaction can determine much about what kinds of physical properties and behaviors will emerge. Now, a team of researchers reports the discovery of a new set of rules governing one type of atomic-pair interaction.

Study of tundra soil demonstrates vulnerability of ecosystem to climate warming Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:28 AM PST Findings from one of the first comprehensive field studies by a collaborative team of researchers demonstrate the active layer microbiome of tundra soil was significantly altered after only 1.5 years of experimental warming -- a rapid response demonstrating high sensitivity of this ecosystem to warming. Collectively, the results of this study suggest the vulnerability of permafrost ecosystem carbon to climate warming and the significance of microbial feedbacks in mediating this vulnerability.

Crystal, magnetic structure of multiferroic hexagonal manganite Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:28 AM PST Ever since Curie conjectured on 'the symmetry in physical phenomena, symmetry of an electric field and a magnetic field,' it has long been a dream for material scientists to search for this rather unusual class of material. Multiferroic materials are a class of crystalline material which exhibit a number of unique properties, in which at least two order parameters exist simultaneously.

Spanish conquest left its imprint on men's genes in Panama Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:28 AM PST European men who chose indigenous women as the mothers of their children left their mark on men in the New World. Only 22 percent of Panamanian men have Y-chromosomes of native origin, even though most Panamanians are of female indigenous ancestry.

Gulf of Mexico historic shipwrecks help scientists unlock mysteries of deep-sea ecosystems Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:28 AM PST The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill significantly altered microbial communities thriving near shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico, potentially changing these diverse ecosystems and degrading the historically and culturally significant ships they live on, according to new research.

Zebrafish embryos exposed to atrazine pass on health problems to their young Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:28 AM PST Atrazine exposure during embryonic development could cause later reproductive problems for female zebrafish, as well as physical deformations in their offspring, according to new research. Atrazine, an agricultural herbicide, is a suspected endocrine-disrupting chemical. It is used to kill broadleaf and grassy weeds in crops, such as corn, especially in the Midwest, and it often contaminates water supplies.

One drug used to prevent HIV transmission during pregnancy shows evidence of developmental effects Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:28 AM PST The antiretroviral drug atazanavir -- sometimes included in treatments to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission during pregnancy -- may have small but significant effects on infant development, reports a new study.

How fish control microbes through their gills Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:28 AM PST Fish induce production of a particular antibody in their gills in response to pathogen exposure, researchers report at the conclusion of work that could lead to improved fish vaccines for aquaculture.

Nearly all US forests threatened by drought, climate change Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:13 AM PST Forests across the United States are feeling the heat from increasing drought and climate change, according to a study by scientists from 14 research institutions. While the effects have been most pronounced in the West, the team found virtually all US forests are now experiencing some degree of change and are vulnerable to future declines.

Differences found in pain coping between black, white Americans Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:13 AM PST Black and white Americans cope with pain differently. A new review and analysis of 19 studies is the first to examine the entire published literature and quantify the relationship between race and the use of pain-coping strategies.

Low-carbon policies could prevent up to 175,000 US deaths by 2030 Posted: 22 Feb 2016 11:13 AM PST Reducing US emissions to the levels needed to avoid a 2-degree C warming could prevent up to 175,000 premature deaths by 2030 and yield near-term national benefits of about $250 billion a year, according to a study. When longer-term global impacts are figured in, benefits could be 5 to 10 times larger than the estimated costs of implementing emissions reductions. However, this would require greater reductions than those targeted in current legislation or regulations.

Meningitis A nearly eliminated in Africa through vaccination, reaching over 235 million people Posted: 22 Feb 2016 10:41 AM PST Global vaccine experts and officials from all 26 African 'meningitis belt' countries have convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to celebrate one of Africa's biggest public health achievements -- the introduction of a vaccine designed, developed, and produced for use in Africa, that in five years of use has nearly eliminated serogroup A meningococcal disease from meningitis belt countries and is now being integrated into routine national immunization programs.

Seeing cancer in 3-D Posted: 22 Feb 2016 10:41 AM PST Cancer cells don't live on glass slides, yet the vast majority of images related to cancer biology come from the cells being photographed on flat, two-dimensional surfaces. A new high-resolution microscope now makes it possible to visualize cancer cells in 3-D and record how they are signaling to other parts of their environment, revealing the previously unappreciated biology of how cancer cells functions within living things.

Little diet pain, big health gain Posted: 22 Feb 2016 10:40 AM PST Those who struggle with obesity, take heart. Losing as little as 5 percent of your body weight is enough to reap significant health benefits, according to a study. The randomized controlled trial of 40 obese men and women compared, for the first time, the health outcomes of 5 percent, 10 percent, and 15 percent weight loss. While additional weight loss further improved metabolic health, 5 percent weight loss was sufficient to reduce multiple risk factors for type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Extinct glyptodonts really were gigantic armadillos, ancient DNA shows Posted: 22 Feb 2016 10:40 AM PST Extinct glyptodonts really were gigantic armadillos, according to researchers who have reconstructed the family tree of glyptodonts based on their mitochondrial genome, reconstructed from small fragments of DNA extracted from bits of a protective, bony carapace.

Soap bubbles' secrets go pop Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:52 AM PST Some phenomena that appear to be well understood are much more mysterious than it seems. In spite of the numerous applications that rely on the presence or absence of bubbles, no advanced scientific studies had been carried out so far into how bubbles form. A team of researchers tackled this question and developed a self-sustaining bubble machine in the laboratory. The researchers have managed to determine the minimum speed at which air must be blown on a soap film to form bubbles, under various experimental conditions.

Method to safely share password data Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:51 AM PST An unfortunate reality for cybersecurity researchers is that real-world data for their research too often comes via a security breach. Now computer scientists have devised a way to let organizations share statistics about their users' passwords without putting those same customers at risk of being hacked.

High death rates from unnatural causes for male lions in Cecil the Lion's park Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:51 AM PST When Cecil the Lion was killed last year by a trophy hunter in Zimbabwe, it caused an international outcry. Now researchers have calculated that many more males from the same park are likely to die in conflicts with humans.

Worm study may resolve discrepancies in research on aging Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:51 AM PST Researchers may have discovered what's responsible for discrepant findings between dozens of fundamental studies of the biology of aging. A drug commonly used in research with C. elegans worms, they report, has had unanticipated effects on lifespan.

Supply of GPs, detection of hypertension in England associated with premature mortality rates Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:51 AM PST The associations between mortality under 75 years and general practice characteristics have been examined by researchers in England. The team set out to investigate whether a conceptual model representing some of the proposed mechanisms of primary care could explain variations in premature mortality in general practice populations, taking particular account of deprivation among population characteristics.

Tough social issues provide a challenge for companies and researchers Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:51 AM PST Multinational companies are facing tough issues like climate change, poverty and human rights. A new study suggests that they are increasingly seen to have a responsibility to support sustainable development.

Quantum processes control accurately to several attoseconds Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:51 AM PST An international team of scientists has succeeded in proving that control over quantum processes accurately to several attoseconds (one billionth of a billionth of a second) is possible.

Crafting a better T cell for immunotherapy Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:51 AM PST T-cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy, involves engineering the patient's T cells in the laboratory to carry new proteins that guide the immune cells directly to tumor cells, allowing the engineered T cells to attack and kill the cancer. Now, a group of researchers has devised a new approach that could speed and improve this process, using a special, small protein tag that can be used to purify and track the T cells once they have been engineered in the laboratory.

Researchers uncover potential target for treating autoimmune disease Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:49 AM PST A molecule that appears to be a cause of autoimmune diseases such as lupus has been identified by a group of researchers. Elevated levels of the molecule allow self-reactive immune cells to escape into the blood stream and attack the body's own tissues.

Quantum phase transition underpins superconductivity in copper oxides Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:49 AM PST Physicists have zoomed in on the transition that could explain why copper-oxides have such impressive superconducting powers. Settling a 20-year debate in the field, they found that a mysterious quantum phase transition associated with the termination of a regime called the "pseudogap" causes a sharp drop in the number of conducting electrons available to pair up for superconductivity.

Researchers trace peanut crop back to its Bolivian roots Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:49 AM PST A wild plant from Bolivia is a 'living relic' of the prehistoric origins of the cultivated peanut species, a team of researchers reports. The peanut that is grown by farmers today is the result of hybridization between two wild species. The hybrid was cultivated by ancient inhabitants of South America and, by selection, was transformed into today's crop plant.

Scientists pave way for new generation of superbug drugs Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:49 AM PST Scientists are getting closer to solving the problem of antibiotic resistance. New research reveals the mechanism by which drug-resistant bacterial cells maintain a defensive barrier. The findings pave the way for a new wave of drugs that kill superbugs by bringing down their defensive walls rather than attacking the bacteria itself.

Newly discovered HIV genome modification may put a twist on vaccine and drug design Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:49 AM PST HIV infection of human immune cells triggers a massive increase in methylation, a chemical modification, to both human and viral RNA, aiding replication of the virus. A new study identifies a new mechanism for controlling HIV replication and its interaction with the host immune system.

Home health care, post-acute care in a facility infrequent for hospitalized kids Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:49 AM PST Hospitalized children infrequently used home health care (HHC) and facility-based post-acute care (PAC) after they were discharged, according to a new article.

The Charlie Sheen effect on HIV prevention Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:49 AM PST For some time scientists and advocates have recognized the importance of celebrity in public health. Could Sheen's disclosure, albeit tragic, generate renewed national attention for HIV and HIV prevention, providing an important public health benefit? A new study finds that Charlie Sheen's HIV disclosure corresponded with record levels of public engagement with HIV and HIV prevention.

Atmospheric sulfate particles reduced, but as acidic as ever Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:49 AM PST Tough emission controls have dramatically reduced the amount of toxic sulfate particles in air, but at least in the Southeast United States, they haven't reduced the acidity of the health-threatening particles.

Promising respiratory drug focus of new clinical trial for parkinson's disease Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:26 AM PST A medication approved to treat various respiratory diseases and that has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in preclinical studies is the focus of a new clinical trial for Parkinson's disease.

Goods targeted in thefts 'change with market values' Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:14 AM PST The more expensive an item, the more likely it is to be targeted by thieves and stolen, a has revealed. The findings also show that the rise in the theft of goods such as mobile phones, bicycles, jewellery and the decline in audio equipment, TVs and DVDs taken from properties in London is closely linked to price.

Multiple cosmic impacts 790,000 years ago Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:14 AM PST Approximately 790,000 years ago there were multiple cosmic impacts on Earth with global consequences. Geoscientists have reached this conclusion after dating so-called tektites from various parts of the world.

Sea level mapped from space with GPS reflections Posted: 22 Feb 2016 08:14 AM PST The GPS signal used for 'sat-navs' could help improve understanding of ocean currents, according to new research. Ocean surface height measurements are routinely made from space by radar altimeters, but this new study is the first that uses the GPS reflections. The data for this research was acquired from the TechDemoSat-1 satellite, launched in 2014.

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