ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Carbon dioxide fertilization greening Earth, study finds
• Race and gender may not affect employer interest in resumes
• First multi-year study of honey bee parasites and disease reveals troubling trends
• Nanotube semiconductors well-suited for PV systems
• Model predicts how forests will respond to climate change
• Theory establishes a path to high-performance 2-D semiconductor devices
• Researchers find brain circuit that controls binge drinking
• Strengths and weaknesses of global health networks
• Seeing atoms and molecules in action with an electron 'eye'
• Technique measures 'postural sway' to diagnose neuromuscular disorders
• Hubble discovers moon orbiting the dwarf planet Makemake
• One oil field a key culprit in global ethane gas increase
• Study shows vivid language used to assure whistleblowers of protection instead evokes fear
• Retroviral DNA needs time to find its home, but insertion happens in a blink
• Teenage e-cigarette use 'clustered' in certain schools, study finds
• Nearby massive star explosion 30 million years ago equaled detonation of 100 million suns
• Ancient glass-glued walls studied for nuke waste solutions
• Reducing waste while improving snack nutrition
• Cholesterol levels, not statins, influence colorectal cancer risk
• Newly discovered titanosaurian dinosaur from Argentina, Sarmientosaurus
• Fossils may reveal 20-million-year history of penguins in Australia
• Proteomics method measures carbon uptake of marine microbes
• Quick mapping of our microbiomes and metabolomes
• Child homicide: Speaking of the unspeakable
• New hepatocellular carcinoma prognostic model improves prediction of patient survival
• Cassini explores a methane sea on Titan
• Providing children with tablets loaded with literacy apps yields positive results
• Light echoes give clues to planet nursery around star
• Scientists reveal secrets of a deadly virus family
• Minimally invasive colitis screening using infrared technology could offer fast, simple test
• Study on fragile X syndrome uses fruitfly's point of view to identify new treatments
• How breast cancer cells slide to metastasis
• Shifting gaps in educational attainment among students of different incomes
• Metal ions first sneak in, then bust through
• Bioreactors ready for the big time
• Answer to antibiotic-resistant infections could already be on the market
• Groundwater quality changes alongside expansion of hydraulic fracturing
• Powerful new data on the aging brain and traumatic brain injury
• Women who are cheated on 'win' in the long run; new women 'lose'
• Gender differences, relationship power could be key in preventing HIV in South African adolescents
• MicroRNA pathway could lead to new avenues for leukemia treatment
• Poor understandability of notifications sent to women regarding breast density
• Breast density, outcomes of supplemental breast cancer screening
• Outcomes of immunotherapy tablet for house dust mite allergy-related asthma
• Increased risk of coronary heart disease seen among women who work rotating night shifts
• Turbulence physics explains why jet noise is so loud
• Bias in how we learn and make decisions
• Excessive tests don't benefit patient, do increase cost in age-related immune disorder
• It takes more than peer pressure to make large microgels fit in
• New curiously scaled beetle species from New Britain named after 'Star Wars' Chewbacca
• Scientists provide new insights into gene regulation
• Does learning improve when every student gets a laptop?
• Citizen scientists collected rare ice data, confirm warming since industrial revolution
• Sulfur behavior in Venus atmosphere explained
• The older you get, the more difficult it may become to 'smell' through your mouth
• New land snail species from Australia shows dissection not necessary to identify molluscs
• How can regulators know which of the 80,000 manufactured chemicals pose risks?
• First small molecule targeted therapy to mitigate hearing loss in usher syndrome type 3
• Despite their small brains, ravens and crows may be just as clever as chimps, research suggests
• Radioactive waste disposal could be safer and cheaper

Carbon dioxide fertilization greening Earth, study finds Posted: 26 Apr 2016 01:26 PM PDT From a quarter to half of Earth's vegetated lands has shown significant greening over the last 35 years largely due to rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, according to a new study.

Race and gender may not affect employer interest in resumes Posted: 26 Apr 2016 01:26 PM PDT In 2004, research found that resumes submitted by people with distinctly sounding African-American names were less likely to get callbacks regarding the job. Now, new research finds no evidence of employer preferences for applicants from a particular race or gender at the initial stage of the hiring process.

First multi-year study of honey bee parasites and disease reveals troubling trends Posted: 26 Apr 2016 01:26 PM PDT Researchers in the United States recently completed the first comprehensive, multi-year study of honey bee parasites and disease as part of the National Honey Bee Disease Survey. The findings reveal some alarming patterns, but provide at least a few pieces of good news as well.

Nanotube semiconductors well-suited for PV systems Posted: 26 Apr 2016 01:25 PM PDT Researchers have discovered single-walled carbon nanotube semiconductors could be favorable for photovoltaic systems because they can potentially convert sunlight to electricity or fuels without losing much energy.

Model predicts how forests will respond to climate change Posted: 26 Apr 2016 01:25 PM PDT Using a new model, researchers predict that many forests across the US are ill-suited to withstand drought conditions likely to face the country in the coming century. Furthermore, in the Pacific Northwest, and across much of the US southern border, conditions may well require the development of new forest types not currently seen in the US.

Theory establishes a path to high-performance 2-D semiconductor devices Posted: 26 Apr 2016 01:25 PM PDT Researchers have uncovered a way to overcome a principal obstacle in using two-dimensional (2-D) semiconductors in electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Researchers find brain circuit that controls binge drinking Posted: 26 Apr 2016 01:25 PM PDT Researchers have identified a circuit between two brain regions that controls alcohol binge drinking, offering a more complete picture on what drives a behavior that costs the United States more than $170 billion annually and how it can be treated.

Strengths and weaknesses of global health networks Posted: 26 Apr 2016 12:30 PM PDT Tuberculosis, childhood pneumonia, maternal death in childbirth, tobacco-related illnesses: how do global health networks select issues and seek to address these public health challenges that affect the world's poorest countries? How do these networks arise and garner resources? How adaptable are they to changing conditions, national governments, and shifting coalitions and interests? Why are some conditions targeted while others, equally widespread and serious, are not? And finally, are global networks useful at all?

Seeing atoms and molecules in action with an electron 'eye' Posted: 26 Apr 2016 12:01 PM PDT A unique rapid-fire electron source -- originally built as a prototype for driving next-generation X-ray lasers -- will help scientists study ultrafast chemical processes and changes in materials at the atomic scale.

Technique measures 'postural sway' to diagnose neuromuscular disorders Posted: 26 Apr 2016 12:00 PM PDT A new technique might be used to diagnose neuromuscular disorders such as multiple sclerosis or impairment from concussions by detecting and measuring subtle oscillations in a person's standing posture.

Hubble discovers moon orbiting the dwarf planet Makemake Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:49 AM PDT Peering to the outskirts of our solar system, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has spotted a small, dark moon orbiting Makemake, the second brightest icy dwarf planet -- after Pluto -- in the Kuiper Belt.

One oil field a key culprit in global ethane gas increase Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:49 AM PDT A single US shale oil field is responsible for much of the past decade's increase in global atmospheric levels of ethane, a gas that can damage air quality and impact climate, according to new study.

Study shows vivid language used to assure whistleblowers of protection instead evokes fear Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:49 AM PDT A new study is the first study to demonstrate that promoting explicit whistleblower protections can have the unintended consequence of actually inhibiting reporting of misconduct by intensifying the perceived risk of retaliation.

Retroviral DNA needs time to find its home, but insertion happens in a blink Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:49 AM PDT Retroviruses such as HIV must insert their viral DNA into host-cell DNA. A new study reveals details about the viral DNA's search for an insertion point. The findings could help improve treatments for HIV infection and gene therapy.

Teenage e-cigarette use 'clustered' in certain schools, study finds Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:49 AM PDT Since 2011, the prevalence of adolescent electronic cigarette use has drastically increased in the U.S. Certain school environments have an impact on electronic cigarette use among teenagers, a new study concludes.

Nearby massive star explosion 30 million years ago equaled detonation of 100 million suns Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:49 AM PDT A giant star that exploded 30 million years ago in a galaxy near Earth had a radius prior to going supernova that was 200 times larger than our sun, say astrophysicists. The massive explosion, Supernova 2013ej, was one of the closest to Earth in recent years. Comprehensive analysis of the exploding star's light curve and color spectrum found its sudden blast hurled material outward at 10,000 kilometers a second.

Ancient glass-glued walls studied for nuke waste solutions Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:47 AM PDT The modern challenge of nuclear waste storage and disposal has researchers looking back at ancient materials from around the world.

Reducing waste while improving snack nutrition Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:47 AM PDT Food scientists have discovered how to add carrot pomace -- the pulpy leftover from juicing the veggies -- to cornstarch, increasing the nutrition and 'puffiness' of snack foods.

Cholesterol levels, not statins, influence colorectal cancer risk Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:47 AM PDT Long-term use of the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins does not appear to decrease a patient's risk of colorectal cancer, suggests a new, large case-control study.

Newly discovered titanosaurian dinosaur from Argentina, Sarmientosaurus Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:47 AM PDT Scientists have discovered Sarmientosaurus musacchioi, a new species of titanosaurian dinosaur, based on an complete skull and partial neck fossil unearthed in Patagonia, Argentina, according to a new study.

Fossils may reveal 20-million-year history of penguins in Australia Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:47 AM PDT Multiple dispersals of penguins reached Australia after the continent split from Antarctica, including 'giant penguins' that may have lived there after they went extinct elsewhere, according to a new study.

Proteomics method measures carbon uptake of marine microbes Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:45 AM PDT A successful trial has been described of a new method of identifying the carbon uptake of specific marine bacterioplankton taxa. The technique uses proteomics -- the large-scale study of proteins -- to observe directly the metabolic processes of communities of microorganisms.

Quick mapping of our microbiomes and metabolomes Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:44 AM PDT While technological advances have made it easier to map our microbiomes and metabolomes, these studies typically take too long for that data to be medically useful. Researchers have now used the 2016 San Diego Fermentation Festival as a test case for a novel rapid response system. The team collected samples, analyzed data and reported conclusions in an unprecedented 48 hours.

Child homicide: Speaking of the unspeakable Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:44 AM PDT New estimates suggest that homicide could be responsible for just over 1 percent of all neonatal deaths in South Africa. Together with other studies reporting on child homicide from other countries, these findings emphasize the importance of child protection, and highlight a need for cross-sector services to support vulnerable mothers.

New hepatocellular carcinoma prognostic model improves prediction of patient survival Posted: 26 Apr 2016 11:44 AM PDT The ITA.LI.CA prognostic system, a model integrating tumor staging, liver function, functional status, and alpha-fetoprotein level, builds on previous models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis and shows superior survival prediction in Italian and Taiwanese cohorts, according to a new study.

Cassini explores a methane sea on Titan Posted: 26 Apr 2016 10:46 AM PDT A new study finds that a large sea on Saturn's moon Titan is composed mostly of pure liquid methane, independently confirming an earlier result. The seabed may be covered in a sludge of carbon- and nitrogen-rich material, and its shores may be surrounded by wetlands.

Providing children with tablets loaded with literacy apps yields positive results Posted: 26 Apr 2016 10:01 AM PDT Researchers have been conducting a study to determine whether tablet computers loaded with literacy applications could improve the reading preparedness of young children living in economically disadvantaged communities. In all three cases, study participants' performance on standardized tests of reading preparedness indicated that the tablet use was effective.

Light echoes give clues to planet nursery around star Posted: 26 Apr 2016 10:01 AM PDT For the first time, astronomers used echoes of light to determine the distance from a star to the inner wall of its surrounding planet-forming disk of dust and gas. Being able to exactly pinpoint the inner edge of such disks is a big step forward in understanding the evolution of planetary systems.

Scientists reveal secrets of a deadly virus family Posted: 26 Apr 2016 10:01 AM PDT Scientists have solved the structure of the biological machinery used by a common virus to recognize and attack human host cells. The new structure gives scientists the first view of the glycoprotein of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), present on every continent except Antarctica. The research reveals important traits in LCMV and points to possible drug targets on LCMV's close relative: Lassa virus.

Minimally invasive colitis screening using infrared technology could offer fast, simple test Posted: 26 Apr 2016 10:01 AM PDT A minimally invasive screening for ulcerative colitis, a debilitating gastrointestinal tract disorder, using emerging infrared technology could be a rapid and cost-effective method for detecting disease that eliminates the need for biopsies and intrusive testing of the human body, according to researchers.

Study on fragile X syndrome uses fruitfly's point of view to identify new treatments Posted: 26 Apr 2016 10:01 AM PDT The hormone insulin - usually associated with diabetes -- is involved in the daily activity patterns and cognitive deficits in the fruitfly model of FXS. Results reveal a metabolic pathway that can be targeted by new and already approved drugs to treat fragile X patients. This syndrome is the most common genetically inherited cause of intellectual disability in humans.

How breast cancer cells slide to metastasis Posted: 26 Apr 2016 10:01 AM PDT The spreading of cancer cells from one part of the body to another, a process known as metastasis, is the leading cause of death among cancer patients. A study now reveals why some cancer cells may be more metastatic than others. The findings show that breast cancer cells spread to other parts of the body by sliding around other cells blocking their escape route out of the original tumor.

Shifting gaps in educational attainment among students of different incomes Posted: 26 Apr 2016 09:08 AM PDT A new study looks at income-based gaps in educational attainment. While the difference in high school graduation rates between high- and low-income students shrunk, inequality may have shifted to higher education, with gaps growing in college attendance and completion.

Metal ions first sneak in, then bust through Posted: 26 Apr 2016 09:07 AM PDT For the first time, scientists obtained an atomic view of two key processes in batteries as they are charged. A new study offers new insights about the underlying principles involved in energy storage.

Bioreactors ready for the big time Posted: 26 Apr 2016 09:01 AM PDT Bioreactors are passive filtration systems that can reduce nitrate losses from farm fields. Most bioreactors are simple pits filled with wood chips; bacteria on the wood chips remove 25 to 45 percent of the nitrate in runoff water. New research highlights their potential applications and provides insight into design options.

Answer to antibiotic-resistant infections could already be on the market Posted: 26 Apr 2016 09:01 AM PDT The rise of antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens is an increasingly global threat to public health. In the United States alone, antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens kill thousands every year. But non-antibiotic therapeutic drugs already approved for other purposes in people could be effective in fighting the antibiotic-resistant pathogens, according to a new study.

Groundwater quality changes alongside expansion of hydraulic fracturing Posted: 26 Apr 2016 09:01 AM PDT New research demonstrates that groundwater quality changes alongside the expansion of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing but also suggests that some potentially hazardous effects may dissipate over time.

Powerful new data on the aging brain and traumatic brain injury Posted: 26 Apr 2016 09:01 AM PDT The Allen Institute for Brain Science has announced major updates to its online resources available at brain-map.org, including a new resource on Aging, Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury. The resource is the first of its kind to collect and share a wide variety of data modalities on a large sample of aged brains, complete with mental health histories and clinical diagnoses.

Women who are cheated on 'win' in the long run; new women 'lose' Posted: 26 Apr 2016 09:01 AM PDT Women who lose their unfaithful mate to another woman actually win in the long run, according to new research.'Our thesis is that the woman who 'loses' her mate to another woman will go through a period of post-relationship grief and betrayal, but come out of the experience with higher mating intelligence that allows her to better detect cues in future mates that may indicate low mate value. Hence, in the long-term, she 'wins."

Gender differences, relationship power could be key in preventing HIV in South African adolescents Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:55 AM PDT Millions of those infected with HIV worldwide are young women, ages 15-24, according to the World Health Organization. Because the HIV epidemic overlaps with an epidemic of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women and girls, researchers have suspected a correlation between inequities in relationship power and the risky sexual behavior that can lead to HIV transmission.

MicroRNA pathway could lead to new avenues for leukemia treatment Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:55 AM PDT A particular signaling route in microRNA (miR-22) has been identified that could lead to targets for acute myeloid leukemia, the most common type of fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

Poor understandability of notifications sent to women regarding breast density Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:55 AM PDT The content, readability, and understandability of dense breast notifications sent to women following screening mammography have been examined by a team of researchers.

Breast density, outcomes of supplemental breast cancer screening Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:55 AM PDT The screening performance of digital mammography combined with tomosynthesis (a type of imaging) has been compared to digital mammography alone for women with varying levels of breast density.

Outcomes of immunotherapy tablet for house dust mite allergy-related asthma Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:55 AM PDT The addition of a house dust mite (HDM) sublingual allergen immunotherapy (SLIT) tablet to maintenance medications improved time to first moderate or severe asthma exacerbation during a period of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) reduction among adults with HDM allergy-related asthma not well controlled by ICS, according to a study.

Increased risk of coronary heart disease seen among women who work rotating night shifts Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:55 AM PDT Women who work more than 10 years of rotating night shift work had a 15 to 18 percent increased risk of developing coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease, as compared with women who did not work rotating night shifts, new research indicates.

Turbulence physics explains why jet noise is so loud Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:54 AM PDT If you've ever experienced the exceptionally powerful and reverberating sounds of a jet during takeoff, you likely won't be surprised that the noise produced by jet engines is ranked among the loudest of human-generated noises.

Bias in how we learn and make decisions Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:54 AM PDT Thinking about drawing to an inside straight or playing another longshot? Just remember that while human decision-making is biased by potential rewards, what we know about individual cues that help us to make those decisions is biased toward failure, a new study finds.

Excessive tests don't benefit patient, do increase cost in age-related immune disorder Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:08 AM PDT A series of tests physicians routinely order to help diagnose and follow their patients with an elevated antibody level that is a marker for cancer risk, often do not benefit the patient but do increase health care costs, pathologists report.

It takes more than peer pressure to make large microgels fit in Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:08 AM PDT Researchers believe they've solved the mystery of how oversized microgels shrink to fit colloidal crystals, and what they've learned could also have implications for biological systems made up of soft organic particles not unlike the polymer microgels.

New curiously scaled beetle species from New Britain named after 'Star Wars' Chewbacca Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:07 AM PDT Chewbacca, the fictional 'Star Wars' hairy character, has given his name to a new species of flightless beetle, discovered in New Britain, Papua New Guinea. The three scientists, who have recorded this weevil species from Bismarck Archipelago's largest island, found a total of four new species. However, it was the scales of one of them that reminded the authors of Han Solo's loyal companion.

Scientists provide new insights into gene regulation Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:06 AM PDT Researchers have solved the three-dimensional structure of a gene repression complex that is known to play a role in cancer. The study focuses on three protein components which make up the core of the NuRD complex: MTA1, RBBP4 and HDAC1.

Does learning improve when every student gets a laptop? Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:06 AM PDT Schools that provide each student with a laptop computer, as well as the appropriate support for both students and teachers, see significant improvement in academic achievement, a new paper indicates.

Citizen scientists collected rare ice data, confirm warming since industrial revolution Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:06 AM PDT In 1442, Shinto priests in Japan began keeping records of the freeze dates of a nearby lake, while in 1693 Finnish merchants started recording breakup dates on a local river. Together they create the oldest inland water ice records in human history and mark the first inklings of climate change, says new research.

Sulfur behavior in Venus atmosphere explained Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:06 AM PDT The beautiful dark stripes on ultraviolet images of Venus's disc are in no way connected with the crystalline sulfur particles in its atmosphere -- the ultraviolet is absorbed by another substance. This has been proven by data obtained from the first ever model of the distribution of sulfur in Venus's gaseous envelope.

The older you get, the more difficult it may become to 'smell' through your mouth Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:06 AM PDT You not only pick up aromas through your nose, but also through your mouth while you chew your food. Some people simply can smell better than others and those may enjoy an enhanced flavor of foods.

New land snail species from Australia shows dissection not necessary to identify molluscs Posted: 26 Apr 2016 08:06 AM PDT Dissection might prove unnecessary when identifying new molluscs after scientists described a previously unknown land snail based on its genitalia, yet without damaging the specimen in the slightest. Thanks to this novel method, the biologists have now discovered the first new Australian snail of its family for the last 33 years.

How can regulators know which of the 80,000 manufactured chemicals pose risks? Posted: 26 Apr 2016 07:16 AM PDT A new pilot study defines an approach that can help EPA and other government regulators decide which among the more than 80,000 chemicals in commerce and the environment, many poorly understood, should receive priority attention.

First small molecule targeted therapy to mitigate hearing loss in usher syndrome type 3 Posted: 26 Apr 2016 07:16 AM PDT The first small molecule targeted therapy for progressive hearing loss has been developed in a mouse model of USH3, an USH classified by progressive loss of hearing and vision starting in the first few decades of life along with variable balance disorder.

Despite their small brains, ravens and crows may be just as clever as chimps, research suggests Posted: 26 Apr 2016 07:15 AM PDT A new study suggests that ravens can be as clever as chimpanzees, despite having much smaller brains, indicating that rather than the size of the brain, the neuronal density and the structure of the birds' brains play an important role in terms of their intelligence.

Radioactive waste disposal could be safer and cheaper Posted: 26 Apr 2016 07:13 AM PDT Scientists have developed a technology to reprocess irradiated reactor graphite by evaporation. This technology allows making radioactive waste disposal safer and economically feasible.

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