ScienceDaily: Top News

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• New SARS-like virus is poised to infect humans
• Bacteria-powered microrobots navigate with help from new algorithm
• Huge problems faced by parents of children with autism
• Fertilizer applied to fields today will pollute water for decades
• Sweet 'quantum dots' light the way for new HIV and Ebola treatment
• ExoMars on its way to solve the Red Planet’s mysteries
• Light illuminates the way for bio-bots
• Carbon from land played a role during last deglaciation
• Newly discovered dinosaur reveals how T. rex became king of the Cretaceous
• IQ and fade-out effect: Environmental intervention can raise general intelligence, but the effects aren't permanent
• Experimentation and largest-ever quantum simulation of a disordered system explain quantum many-particle problem
• First prosthesis in the world with direct connection to bone, nerves and muscles
• Molecular breakthrough: Method to cleave and form new bonds with 'inert' materials
• One in four seniors have superbugs on their hands after a hospital stay, new research finds
• Scientists create painless patch of insulin-producing beta cells to control diabetes
• You are what your parents ate!
• Researchers develop new lens for terahertz radiation
• Gravity glasses offer a view of the Earth's interior
• Hydrocarbon storage, fracking and lightning risk
• Degrading underground ice wedges are reshaping Arctic landscape
• Bee flower choices altered by exposure to pesticides
• Which neuron is more mature? Single cell transcriptome knows
• Nontoxic way of generating portable power developed
• Medical students, burnout and alcohol
• New imaging technique may give physicians clearer picture of stroke damage
• Fermions to bosons, bosons to fermions
• Traditional measures of inducing pain refuted in exercise experiments
• What dark matter might be
• Bacterial biofilms in hospital water pipes may show pathogenic properties
• Now researchers can follow the hectic life inside a cell
• Tunable windows for privacy, camouflage
• Equipping parents with learning activities helps close cognitive development gap between disadvantaged, high-resourced children
• Exercise helps young people with psychosis symptoms, study shows
• Lake Huron's Chinook salmon fishery unlikely to recover due to ongoing food shortage
• Potential new therapeutic target for hypertension may offer less side effects
• Robot learning companion offers custom-tailored tutoring
• Breast cancer: ROBO1 helps cells put up stiff resistance
• Novel nano biosensor developed for rapid detection of flu virus
• Could wearable technology give 'super powers' to humans?
• Neanderthals diet: 80% meat, 20% vegetables
• Sedentary behavior increases with age even in active children
• More than bugs: Spiders also like an occasional vegetarian meal
• Inventory of moths
• New fuel cell design powered by graphene-wrapped nanocrystals
• Rapid response for inflammation control in songbirds' brains could lead to therapies in humans
• Beta-blockers could reduce the risk of COPD exacerbations
• New 'AsthmaMap' could redefine disease and personalize treatment for patients
• How a bad night's sleep might worsen cancer development
• Can we predict aggressiveness of prostate cancer before surgery with a blood test?
• Almost 1/3 of infertile men at increased risk of metabolic diseases as they age
• RNA sequencing opens door to accurate, highly specific test for prostate cancer
• Tying lipstick smears from crime scenes to specific brands
• Desert cactus purifies contaminated water for aquaculture, drinking and more
• A step toward a birth control pill for men
• Getting closer to using beer hops to fight disease
• DNA 'origami' could help build faster, cheaper computer chips
• Blueberries, the well-known 'super fruit,' could help fight Alzheimer's
• Nanomotors could help electronics fix themselves
• A nanoparticle does double duty, imaging and treating atherosclerosis
• Population health program decreases heart disease risk factors across an entire community

New SARS-like virus is poised to infect humans Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:15 PM PDT A SARS-like virus found in Chinese horseshoe bats may be poised to infect humans without the need for adaptation, overcoming an initial barrier that could potentially set the stage for an outbreak according to a new study.

Bacteria-powered microrobots navigate with help from new algorithm Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:14 PM PDT Engineers have recently published research on a method for using electric fields to help tiny bio-robots propelled by flagellated bacteria navigate around obstacles in a fluid environment. These microrobots could one day be used for building microscopic devices or even delivering medication at the cellular level.

Huge problems faced by parents of children with autism Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:14 PM PDT Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder face severe challenges in accessing adequate services, according to a survey of hundreds of parents in the United Kingdom.

Fertilizer applied to fields today will pollute water for decades Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:14 PM PDT Dangerous nitrate levels in drinking water could persist for decades, increasing the risk for blue baby syndrome and other serious health concerns, according to a new study.

Sweet 'quantum dots' light the way for new HIV and Ebola treatment Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:14 PM PDT A research team has observed for the first time how HIV and Ebola viruses attach to cells to spread infection. The findings offer a new way of treating such viruses: instead of destroying the pathogens, introduce a block on how they interact with cells.

ExoMars on its way to solve the Red Planet’s mysteries Posted: 14 Mar 2016 03:24 PM PDT The first of two joint ESA-Roscosmos missions to Mars has begun a seven-month journey to the Red Planet, where it will address unsolved mysteries of the planet's atmosphere that could indicate present-day geological -- or even biological -- activity.

Light illuminates the way for bio-bots Posted: 14 Mar 2016 01:12 PM PDT A new class of miniature biological robots, or bio-bots, has seen the light -- and is following where the light shines. The bio-bots are powered by muscle cells that have been genetically engineered to respond to light, giving researchers control over the bots' motion, a key step toward their use in applications for health, sensing and the environment.

Carbon from land played a role during last deglaciation Posted: 14 Mar 2016 01:12 PM PDT As the Earth emerged from its last ice age several thousand years ago, atmospheric carbon dioxide increased and further warmed the planet. Scientists have long speculated that the primary source of this CO2 was from the deep ocean around Antarctica, though it has been difficult to prove.

Newly discovered dinosaur reveals how T. rex became king of the Cretaceous Posted: 14 Mar 2016 01:12 PM PDT The fossilized remains of a new horse-sized dinosaur reveal how Tyrannosaurus rex and its close relatives became top predators.

IQ and fade-out effect: Environmental intervention can raise general intelligence, but the effects aren't permanent Posted: 14 Mar 2016 12:16 PM PDT A psychologist shows that while environmental intervention can raise general intelligence, the effects aren't permanent.

Experimentation and largest-ever quantum simulation of a disordered system explain quantum many-particle problem Posted: 14 Mar 2016 12:16 PM PDT Using some of the largest supercomputers available, physics researchers have produced one of the largest simulations ever to help explain one of physics most daunting problems.

First prosthesis in the world with direct connection to bone, nerves and muscles Posted: 14 Mar 2016 11:14 AM PDT Thanks to the electrodes system a stable signal is obtained, which allows precise control like handling an egg without breaking. It also provides sensations as if it were a real hand.

Molecular breakthrough: Method to cleave and form new bonds with 'inert' materials Posted: 14 Mar 2016 11:08 AM PDT Reducing a barrier that generally hinders the easy generation of new molecules, chemists have devised a method to cleave generally inert bonds to allow the formation of new ones.

One in four seniors have superbugs on their hands after a hospital stay, new research finds Posted: 14 Mar 2016 11:08 AM PDT One in four seniors is bringing along stowaways from the hospital to their next stop: superbugs on their hands. Moreover, seniors who go to a nursing home or other post-acute care facility will continue to acquire new superbugs during their stay, according to new findings.

Scientists create painless patch of insulin-producing beta cells to control diabetes Posted: 14 Mar 2016 11:07 AM PDT For decades, researchers have tried to duplicate the function of beta cells, which don't work properly in patients with diabetes. Now, researchers have devised another option: a synthetic patch filled with natural beta cells that can secrete doses of insulin to control blood sugar levels on demand.

You are what your parents ate! Posted: 14 Mar 2016 11:07 AM PDT Scientists have shown that diet-induced obesity and diabetes can be epigenetically inherited by the offspring via both the oocytes and the sperm.

Researchers develop new lens for terahertz radiation Posted: 14 Mar 2016 11:07 AM PDT Engineers have devised a way to focus terahertz radiation using an array of stacked metal plates, a technique which may prove useful for terahertz imaging or in next-generation data networks.

Gravity glasses offer a view of the Earth's interior Posted: 14 Mar 2016 11:07 AM PDT How does the ice on the polar caps change? And which are the geological characteristics of the Earth's crust beneath? Geophysicists will be able to answer these questions in the future using gravity field measurements from ESA's GOCE gravity satellite. Geodesists have prepared the measurement data mathematically in such a way that they can be used to resolve structures deep below the surface.

Hydrocarbon storage, fracking and lightning risk Posted: 14 Mar 2016 11:07 AM PDT Fires caused by lightning strikes on hydrocarbon storage plants are a century-old, yet to be addressed, problem, according to new research. In the era of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, this is becoming an even more poignant issue for the fossil fuel industry.

Degrading underground ice wedges are reshaping Arctic landscape Posted: 14 Mar 2016 11:01 AM PDT Rapid melting of ice and Arctic permafrost is altering tundra regions in Alaska, Canada and Russia, according to a new study. Ice-wedge degradation has been observed before in individual locations, but this is the first study to determine that rapid melting has become widespread throughout the Arctic.

Bee flower choices altered by exposure to pesticides Posted: 14 Mar 2016 11:01 AM PDT Low levels of pesticides can impact the foraging behaviour of bumblebees on wildflowers, changing their floral preferences and hindering their ability to learn the skills needed to extract nectar and pollen.

Which neuron is more mature? Single cell transcriptome knows Posted: 14 Mar 2016 08:13 AM PDT The human brain is extremely complex, containing billions of neurons forming trillions of synapses where thoughts, behavior and emotion arise. However, when an individual is performing a particular task, not many but only a few neural circuits are in action. The enormous cellular heterogeneity of the brain structure has made dissections of the molecular basis for neural circuitry function particularly challenging.

Nontoxic way of generating portable power developed Posted: 14 Mar 2016 08:13 AM PDT The batteries that power the ubiquitous devices of modern life, from smartphones and computers to electric cars, are mostly made of toxic materials such as lithium that can be difficult to dispose of and have limited global supplies. Now, researchers have come up with an alternative system for generating electricity, which harnesses heat and uses no metals or toxic materials.

Medical students, burnout and alcohol Posted: 14 Mar 2016 08:13 AM PDT Medical students are more prone to alcohol abuse than their peers not attending medical school, especially if they are young, single and under a high debt load, according to a study on medical student burnout.

New imaging technique may give physicians clearer picture of stroke damage Posted: 14 Mar 2016 08:11 AM PDT Ischemic strokes account for nearly 90 percent of all strokes. They occur when a blocked artery prevents blood from getting to the brain and usually result in long-term disability or death. Now, a team of researchers has developed a new, real-time method of imaging molecular events after strokes -- a finding that may lead to improved care for patients.

Fermions to bosons, bosons to fermions Posted: 14 Mar 2016 08:11 AM PDT Theoretical physicists are about to report on a controversial discovery that they say contradicts the work of researchers over the decades. The discovery concerns the conventional approach toward bosonization-debosonization. The finding could affect calculations regarding the future of quantum computers as well as your electronic devices as they become smaller, faster and more advanced.

Traditional measures of inducing pain refuted in exercise experiments Posted: 14 Mar 2016 08:11 AM PDT People who are ready to engage in greater amounts of pain perform better in exercise activities, research shows. This indicates that traditional methods of measuring pain in experiments -- such as thermal, pressure or electrical stimuli -- may be unsuitable for investigating the relationship between exercise and pain.

What dark matter might be Posted: 14 Mar 2016 08:11 AM PDT There are indications that we might never see the universe's mysterious dark matter. Now researchers turn this somehow depressing scenario into an advantage and propose a new model for what dark matter might be -- and how to test it.

Bacterial biofilms in hospital water pipes may show pathogenic properties Posted: 14 Mar 2016 08:11 AM PDT The human microbiome, a diverse collection of microorganisms living inside us and on our skin, has attracted considerable attention for its role in a broad range of human health issues. Now, researchers are discovering that the built environment also has a microbiome, which includes a community of potentially-pathogenic bacteria living inside water supply pipes.

Now researchers can follow the hectic life inside a cell Posted: 14 Mar 2016 08:11 AM PDT Living cells are constantly on the move. They move around and divide, and they are responsible for transporting molecules around inside themselves. Now researchers have developed a method that makes it possible to become a spectator at this hectic traffic. The method is of particular importance for disease research.

Tunable windows for privacy, camouflage Posted: 14 Mar 2016 08:11 AM PDT Researchers have developed a technique that can quickly change the opacity of a window, turning it cloudy, clear or somewhere in between with the flick of a switch.

Equipping parents with learning activities helps close cognitive development gap between disadvantaged, high-resourced children Posted: 14 Mar 2016 07:19 AM PDT Home-based interventions that teach parents to engage children in playful interactive learning activities can close the cognitive development gap between disadvantaged children and high-resource peers, according to a new study.

Exercise helps young people with psychosis symptoms, study shows Posted: 14 Mar 2016 07:18 AM PDT The long-term prospects for young people who are diagnosed with psychosis are typically poor, with high rates of relapse, unemployment and premature death. The antipsychotics they are prescribed also cause rapid weight-gain. Now investigators report that an exercise program has dramatically reduced symptoms among young people with first-episode psychosis.

Lake Huron's Chinook salmon fishery unlikely to recover due to ongoing food shortage Posted: 14 Mar 2016 07:17 AM PDT Lake Huron's Chinook salmon fishery will likely never return to its glory days because the lake can no longer support the predatory fish's main food source, the herring-like alewife, according to a new computer-modeling study.

Potential new therapeutic target for hypertension may offer less side effects Posted: 14 Mar 2016 07:17 AM PDT The recent discovery of a molecule that rescues damaged blood vessels, yet preserves healthy vessels, could serve as a springboard for a new pharmaceutical therapy with fewer side effects for hypertension, report scientists.

Robot learning companion offers custom-tailored tutoring Posted: 14 Mar 2016 07:17 AM PDT Scientists have developed a socially assistive robot called Tega designed to serve as a one-on-one peer learner in or outside of the classroom. Testing the setup in a Boston area preschool, the researchers showed Tega can learn and improve in response to the unique characteristics of students.

Breast cancer: ROBO1 helps cells put up stiff resistance Posted: 14 Mar 2016 07:16 AM PDT A protein called ROBO1 may delay the progression of breast cancer, according to a new article. The study identifies a signaling pathway that may protect breast cells from the tumorigenic effects of stiff extracellular matrices.

Novel nano biosensor developed for rapid detection of flu virus Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:17 AM PDT A novel nano biosensor for rapid detection of flu and other viruses has been developed by researchers. The new invention utilizes an optical method called upconversion luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) process for ultrasensitive virus detection.

Could wearable technology give 'super powers' to humans? Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:13 AM PDT More than just a fad, wearable technology (WT) can change the way we work and give us 'super powers', according to a new study.

Neanderthals diet: 80% meat, 20% vegetables Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:11 AM PDT Scientists have studied the Neanderthals' diet. Based on the isotope composition in the collagen from the prehistoric humans' bones, they were able to show that, while the Neanderthals' diet consisted primarily of large plant eaters such at mammoths and rhinoceroses, it also included vegetarian food.

Sedentary behavior increases with age even in active children Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:11 AM PDT Sedentary behaviour increases in children between the ages of nine and 12 – even if they are otherwise physically active, according to new research.

More than bugs: Spiders also like an occasional vegetarian meal Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:11 AM PDT Spiders are known to be the classic example of insectivorous predators. Zoologists have now been able to show that their diet is more diverse than expected. Their findings show that spiders like to spice up their menu with the occasional vegetarian meal.

Inventory of moths Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:11 AM PDT The rain forests in the mountains of the tropical Andes are amongst the most biodiverse regions on the planet. But the multitude of ants, beetles, moths and butterflies which can be found here are largely unknown. An international team of researchers recently drew up a thorough inventory of the family of the species of looper moths (Geometridae). They came up with a surprising result: The diversity of these moths is much greater than was previously assumed.

New fuel cell design powered by graphene-wrapped nanocrystals Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:10 AM PDT A new materials recipe has been developed for a battery-like hydrogen fuel cell that shields the nanocrystals from oxygen, moisture and contaminants while pushing its performance forward in key areas.

Rapid response for inflammation control in songbirds' brains could lead to therapies in humans Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:10 AM PDT A biological process in the brains of zebra finches shows that the songbirds respond quickly to trauma and are capable of controlling the natural inflammation that occurs to protect the brain from injury. Understanding the process well enough could lead to therapies in humans to control inflammation and hasten recovery from brain injury such as stroke, says a neuroscientist.

Beta-blockers could reduce the risk of COPD exacerbations Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:10 AM PDT Beta-blockers could be used to reduce the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, according to new findings.

New 'AsthmaMap' could redefine disease and personalize treatment for patients Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:10 AM PDT A new digital 'map' detailing different mechanisms that contribute to the development of asthma could help researchers redefine the disease. The map works by dividing asthma into different subgroups in order to allow personalized treatment more targeted to the type of asthma patients live with.

How a bad night's sleep might worsen cancer development Posted: 14 Mar 2016 06:09 AM PDT Recent studies have indicated that patients with sleep apnea may be associated with worse cancer outcomes. Now a new animal study uncovers a possible mechanism which may underlie this link.

Can we predict aggressiveness of prostate cancer before surgery with a blood test? Posted: 14 Mar 2016 05:50 AM PDT Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer, with 400,000 new cases every year in Europe. The success of surgery depends on a variety of factors. Now a new study from scientists in Milan has shown that for local prostate cancers treated with radical prostatectomy, you can preoperatively predict the aggressiveness of the prostatic disease, via a simple blood test.

Almost 1/3 of infertile men at increased risk of metabolic diseases as they age Posted: 14 Mar 2016 05:50 AM PDT Men with fertility problems are at increased risk of metabolic diseases as they age, according to new research.

RNA sequencing opens door to accurate, highly specific test for prostate cancer Posted: 14 Mar 2016 05:50 AM PDT A study on non-coding RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) from prostate cancer patients has identified a series of new prostate cancer markers which can be found in urine. Combining these RNA markers into a single test potentially opens the door for simple, accurate non-invasive testing for prostate cancer.

Tying lipstick smears from crime scenes to specific brands Posted: 14 Mar 2016 05:50 AM PDT It's a common TV show trope: detectives find a lipstick mark at a crime scene, they send a sample to the lab, and suddenly they have a lead. Real-life analyses aren't nearly as fast or straightforward, but scientists are developing a better method for lifting lipstick samples and analyzing them.

Desert cactus purifies contaminated water for aquaculture, drinking and more Posted: 14 Mar 2016 05:50 AM PDT Farm-grown fish are an important source of food with significant and worldwide societal and economic benefits, but the fish that come from these recirculating systems can have unpleasant tastes and odors. To clean contaminated water for farmed fish, drinking and other uses, scientists are now turning to an unlikely source -- the mucilage or inner 'guts' of cacti.

A step toward a birth control pill for men Posted: 14 Mar 2016 05:50 AM PDT Women can choose from many birth control methods, including numerous oral contraceptives, but there's never been an analogous pill for men. That's not for lack of trying: For many years, scientists have attempted to formulate a male pill. Finally, a group of researchers has taken a step toward that goal by tweaking some experimental compounds that show promise.

Getting closer to using beer hops to fight disease Posted: 14 Mar 2016 05:48 AM PDT Hops, those little cone-shaped buds that give beer its bitter flavor, pack a surprisingly healthful punch. They are widely studied for their ability to halt bacterial growth and disease. Now, researchers report that they are close to synthesizing the healthful hops compounds in the lab, which could help scientists more easily create medicines from these compounds.

DNA 'origami' could help build faster, cheaper computer chips Posted: 14 Mar 2016 05:48 AM PDT Electronics manufacturers constantly hunt for ways to make faster, cheaper computer chips, often by cutting production costs or by shrinking component sizes. Now, researchers report that DNA, the genetic material of life, might help accomplish this goal when it is formed into specific shapes through a process reminiscent of the ancient art of paper folding.

Blueberries, the well-known 'super fruit,' could help fight Alzheimer's Posted: 14 Mar 2016 05:48 AM PDT The blueberry, already labeled a 'super fruit' for its power to potentially lower the risk of heart disease and cancer, also could be another weapon in the war against Alzheimer's disease.

Nanomotors could help electronics fix themselves Posted: 14 Mar 2016 05:48 AM PDT As electronics grow ever more intricate, so must the tools required to fix them. Anticipating this challenge, scientists turned to the body's immune system for inspiration and have now built self-propelled nanomotors that can seek out and repair tiny scratches to electronic systems. They could one day lead to flexible batteries, electrodes, solar cells and other gadgets that heal themselves.

A nanoparticle does double duty, imaging and treating atherosclerosis Posted: 14 Mar 2016 05:48 AM PDT Atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque builds up inside arteries, is a prolific and invisible killer, but it may soon lose its ability to hide in the body. Scientists have developed a nanoparticle that mimics high-density lipoprotein. It can simultaneously light up and treat atherosclerotic plaques that clog arteries, which could someday help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Population health program decreases heart disease risk factors across an entire community Posted: 14 Mar 2016 05:48 AM PDT Five years into a 10-year study, a community-wide prevention program has seen initial promise in its goal of reducing heart and cardiovascular disease by reducing factors including high cholesterol/blood pressure, uncontrolled glucose, obesity, tobacco use, physical inactivity, low fruit/vegetable intake and medication underutilization/non-adherence. The number of participants with improved blood pressure and cholesterol levels has increased, and there has also been an improvement in fasting glucose and triglyceride levels, trends not seen on a national level.

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