ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Exploring phosphorene, a promising new material
• New gene testing technology finds cancer risks 'hiding in plain sight'
• Personal cooling units on the horizon
• Origin of Earth's oldest crystals
• Risk factors associated with injurious falls in the elderly
• Extreme heat, precipitation linked to more severe asthma requiring hospitalization
• Not just climate change: Human activity is a major factor driving wildfires
• Junk-food junkies go healthy when rewarded
• How cancer cells escape from tumors, spread
• Do bearded dragons dream? Reptiles share sleep patterns with mammals and birds
• Hunting wolves near Denali, Yellowstone cuts wolf sightings in half
• RNA splicing mutations play major role in genetic variation and disease
• Vitamin stops the aging process of organs
• Scientists turn skin cells into heart cells and brain cells using drugs
• Lifestyle has a strong impact on intestinal bacteria, which has a strong impact on health
• BPA determined to have adverse effects on couples seeking in vitro fertilization
• Analyzing the psyche of risky drivers
• Consumers' trust in online user ratings misplaced, says study
• Shape of tumor may affect whether cells can metastasize
• Scientists predict cell changes that affect breast cancer growth
• TJP1 protein may identify multiple myeloma patients most likely to benefit from proteasome inhibitors
• Study links residential radon exposure to hematologic cancers in women
• Fiber optic biosensor-integrated microfluidic chip to detect glucose levels
• Four new genetic diseases defined within schizophrenia
• Ocean views linked to better mental health
• Seeing the benefits of failure shapes kids' beliefs about intelligence
• Canadian waters getting safer, but research gaps limit full understanding of shipping risks
• Costs for orally administered cancer drugs skyrocket
• Study identifies a key to bone formation, vertebrate evolution
• Cell transplant treats Parkinson's in mice under control of designer drug
• Speedy bridge repair
• Study pinpoints mechanism that allows cells with faulty DNA to reproduce
• Stem cell study finds mechanism that controls skin and hair color
• Age-dependent changes in pancreatic function related to diabetes identified
• Narrow band imaging can reduce recurrence of bladder tumors
• Stem cells know how to open up and unwind
• Eating chocolate each day could reduce heart disease, diabetes risk
• Fungal spores could ‘hijack’ human immune cells to spread infection
• Insect outbreaks reduce wildfire severity
• Drug research could prevent secondary cataract
• Some moths behave like butterflies to mate
• Scientists reveal secret of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• Snails select sources of food based on dislike for smells rather than acceptable taste
• Don’t touch: How scientists study the reactions inside stars
• Simpler fertility test uses saliva to measure hormone levels
• Water storage made prehistoric settlement expansion possible in Amazonia
• At last: Non-toxic and cheap thin-film solar cells for 'zero-energy' buildings
• Harsh out of necessity
• 'Tropical' parasitic disease emerges in Canadian Arctic
• Are we alone? Setting some limits to our planet's uniqueness
• Gut bacteria may predict risk of life-threatening infections following chemotherapy
• Sea-level rise summit coincides with flooding risks in south Florida due to the moon, high tides and inclement weather
• Breakthrough in the treatment of inherited genetic disease
• Excessive empathy can impair understanding of others
• Possible substitute for antibiotics to treat dangerous infections
• Possible extragalactic source of high-energy neutrinos
• Gestational exposure to type of antidepressants associated with adolescent offspring depression
• Theory explains why gaming on touchscreens is clumsy
• Modifying an obesity drug could reduce side effects like anxiety and depression
• Augmented games can increase the diversity of sports

Exploring phosphorene, a promising new material Posted: 28 Apr 2016 02:33 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new method to quickly and accurately determine the orientation of phosphorene, a promising material with potential application as a material for semiconducting transistors in ever faster and more powerful computers.

New gene testing technology finds cancer risks 'hiding in plain sight' Posted: 28 Apr 2016 02:33 PM PDT A new method for identifying mutations and prioritizing variants in breast and ovarian cancer genes, which will not only reduce the number of possible variants for doctors to investigate, but also increase the number of patients that are properly diagnosed.

Personal cooling units on the horizon Posted: 28 Apr 2016 02:32 PM PDT Firefighters entering burning buildings, athletes competing in the broiling sun and workers in foundries may eventually be able to carry their own, lightweight cooling units with them, thanks to a nanowire array that cools, according to materials researchers.

Origin of Earth's oldest crystals Posted: 28 Apr 2016 02:32 PM PDT New research suggests that the very oldest pieces of rock on Earth -- zircon crystals -- are likely to have formed in the craters left by violent asteroid impacts that peppered our nascent planet, rather than via plate tectonics as was previously believed.

Risk factors associated with injurious falls in the elderly Posted: 28 Apr 2016 12:23 PM PDT Falls are one of the leading causes of injury-related death among elderly people. So finding the risk factors that endanger them is becoming increasingly important, particularly with the projected increase in the elderly population with the baby boomers, warn investigators.

Extreme heat, precipitation linked to more severe asthma requiring hospitalization Posted: 28 Apr 2016 12:23 PM PDT Extreme heat and heavy rainfall are related to increased risk of hospitalization for asthma in Maryland, according to a study. Based on over a decade of asthma hospitalization data (115,923 cases from 2000-2012), Researchers observed a 23 percent increase in risk of asthma hospitalizations when there was an extreme heat event during summer months. This risk was higher among 5-17 year olds.

Not just climate change: Human activity is a major factor driving wildfires Posted: 28 Apr 2016 12:23 PM PDT A new study examining wildfires in California found that human activity explains as much about their frequency and location as climate influences.

Junk-food junkies go healthy when rewarded Posted: 28 Apr 2016 12:23 PM PDT According to new research, the most effective strategy for influencing such healthy food choices is not calorie counts and reduced prices, but rather more subtle incentives that reward healthy eating behavior.

How cancer cells escape from tumors, spread Posted: 28 Apr 2016 12:21 PM PDT Metas­tasis. The very word evokes fear. Defined as the spread of cancer cells from one part of the body to another, metastasis is the cause of approximately 90 percent of deaths among cancer patients. How does metastasis come about? And can we stop it?

Do bearded dragons dream? Reptiles share sleep patterns with mammals and birds Posted: 28 Apr 2016 12:21 PM PDT Brain sleep appeared early in vertebrate evolution. Researchers describe the existence of REM and slow-wave sleep in the Australian dragon, with many common features with mammalian sleep: a phase characterized by low frequency/high amplitude average brain activity and rare and bursty neuronal firing (slow-wave sleep); another characterized by awake-like brain activity and rapid eye movements.

Hunting wolves near Denali, Yellowstone cuts wolf sightings in half Posted: 28 Apr 2016 12:21 PM PDT Visitors to Denali National Park and Preserve and Yellowstone National Park were twice as likely to see a wolf when hunting wasn't permitted adjacent to the parks, a new study finds.

RNA splicing mutations play major role in genetic variation and disease Posted: 28 Apr 2016 12:21 PM PDT RNA splicing is a major underlying factor that links mutations to complex traits and diseases, according to an exhaustive analysis of gene expression in whole genome and cell line data. Researchers analyzed how thousands of mutations affect gene regulation in traits such as height, and diseases such as multiple sclerosis. The findings enable accurate functional interpretations of genome-wide association study results.

Vitamin stops the aging process of organs Posted: 28 Apr 2016 12:21 PM PDT By administering nicotinamide riboside to elderly mice, researchers restored their organs' ability to regenerate and prolonged their lives. This method has potential for treating a number of degenerative diseases.

Scientists turn skin cells into heart cells and brain cells using drugs Posted: 28 Apr 2016 12:21 PM PDT In a major breakthrough, scientists have transformed skin cells into heart cells and brain cells using a combination of chemicals. All previous work on cellular reprogramming required adding external genes to the cells, making this accomplishment an unprecedented feat. The research lays the groundwork for one day being able to regenerate lost or damaged cells with pharmaceutical drugs.

Lifestyle has a strong impact on intestinal bacteria, which has a strong impact on health Posted: 28 Apr 2016 12:18 PM PDT Everything you eat or drink affects your intestinal bacteria, and is likely to have an impact on your health. That is the finding of a large-scale study into the effect of food and medicine on the bacterial diversity in the human gut.

BPA determined to have adverse effects on couples seeking in vitro fertilization Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:26 AM PDT Exposure to Bisphenol-A (BPA) may lead to reduced quality of embryos during reproduction. A new study has shown that BPA could be the cause for decreases in the frequency of implantation, pregnancy and live birth rates in couples seeking in vitro fertilization.

Analyzing the psyche of risky drivers Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:26 AM PDT Road crashes are the world's leading cause of preventable death and injury in people under 35, accounting for around 5 million casualties every year. Repeat offenders make a disproportionate contribution to these statistics -- and are known for their poor response to education and prevention efforts. But a better understanding of the subconscious and emotional processes of high-risk drivers could make a difference, according to new research.

Consumers' trust in online user ratings misplaced, says study Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:26 AM PDT The belief that online user ratings are good indicators of product quality is largely an illusion, according to a new study. The analyses show a very low correspondence between average user ratings of products on Amazon.com and product ratings, based on objective tests, found in consumer reports.

Shape of tumor may affect whether cells can metastasize Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:26 AM PDT Only a few cells in a cancerous tumor are able to break away and spread to other parts of the body, but the curve along the edge of the tumor may play a large role in activating these tumor-seeding cells, according to a new study.

Scientists predict cell changes that affect breast cancer growth Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:26 AM PDT Using a broad spectrum of analytical tools, scientists have shown how sometimes small, often practically imperceptible, structural changes in a key breast cancer receptor are directly linked to regulating molecules and can produce predictable effects in curbing or accelerating cancer growth.

TJP1 protein may identify multiple myeloma patients most likely to benefit from proteasome inhibitors Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:22 AM PDT A gene known as TJP1 (tight junction protein 1) could help determine which multiple myeloma patients would best benefit from proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib, as well as combination approaches to enhance proteasome inhibitor sensitivity, according to a study.

Study links residential radon exposure to hematologic cancers in women Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:22 AM PDT A new report finds a statistically-significant, positive association between high levels of residential radon and the risk of hematologic (blood) cancer in women. Radon is a naturally occurring byproduct of the decay of radium, and is a known human lung carcinogen, the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

Fiber optic biosensor-integrated microfluidic chip to detect glucose levels Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:22 AM PDT A team of researchers report integrating fiber optic glucose sensors into a microfluidic chip to create portable, high-performance, low-cost devices for measuring glucose levels.

Four new genetic diseases defined within schizophrenia Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:22 AM PDT Changes in key genes define four previously unknown conditions within schizophrenia, according to a study. Unlike "big data" genetic studies, which have loosely linked hundreds of genetic changes to schizophrenia but cannot explain varying symptoms, the new study revealed distinct disease versions that may affect large slices of patients and enable precision treatment design, say the authors.

Ocean views linked to better mental health Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:22 AM PDT Here's another reason to start saving for that beach house: new research suggests that residents with a view of the water are less stressed.

Seeing the benefits of failure shapes kids' beliefs about intelligence Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:21 AM PDT Parents' beliefs about whether failure is a good or a bad thing guide how their children think about their own intelligence, according to new research. The research indicates that it's parents' responses to failure, and not their beliefs about intelligence, that are ultimately absorbed by their kids.

Canadian waters getting safer, but research gaps limit full understanding of shipping risks Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:21 AM PDT The risks of commercial marine shipping accidents across Canada's regions have been outlined in a new report, including information for different cargo types. The report highlights gaps in understanding and areas for further research.

Costs for orally administered cancer drugs skyrocket Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:21 AM PDT New cancer drugs, taken in pill form, have become dramatically more expensive in their first year on the market compared with drugs launched 15 years ago, calling into question the sustainability of a system that sets high prices at market entry in addition to rapidly increasing those prices over time.

Study identifies a key to bone formation, vertebrate evolution Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:21 AM PDT Researchers have identified a key action of a watershed gene critical to bone formation and the evolution of vertebrates. The Sp7 or Osterix gene more than likely emerged from an ancestral gene family about 400 million years ago, expanding the diversity of life and programming the development of bone-secreting osteoblast cells. The closest living relatives to vertebrates, including sea squirts and lampreys, lack bone and an Sp7 gene.

Cell transplant treats Parkinson's in mice under control of designer drug Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:21 AM PDT A neuroscientist has inserted a genetic switch into nerve cells so a patient can alter their activity by taking designer drugs that would not affect any other cell. The cells in question are neurons and make the neurotransmitter dopamine, whose deficiency is the culprit in the widespread movement disorder Parkinson's disease.

Speedy bridge repair Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:21 AM PDT Normally, it takes weeks to repair the cracking or spalling of columns on just one bridge damaged in an earthquake. Now a team of researchers has developed a new process of fixing damaged bridge columns that takes as little as a few days.

Study pinpoints mechanism that allows cells with faulty DNA to reproduce Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:19 AM PDT Researchers have figured out how some cells do an end-run on replication quality control -- opening the door to developing new cancer-quashing treatments.

Stem cell study finds mechanism that controls skin and hair color Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:19 AM PDT A pair of molecular signals controls skin and hair color in mice and humans -- and could be targeted by new drugs to treat skin pigment disorders like vitiligo, according to a new report.

Age-dependent changes in pancreatic function related to diabetes identified Posted: 28 Apr 2016 10:19 AM PDT Age-dependent changes in pancreatic function related to diabetes have been identified by researchers. The research collaboration to procure and analyze human pancreatic tissue from deceased donors illustrates how the organ's function changes as we age, and could point the way toward new diabetes treatments, say investigators.

Narrow band imaging can reduce recurrence of bladder tumors Posted: 28 Apr 2016 09:42 AM PDT Research into bladder tumor surgery has found that using narrow band imaging can significantly reduce the risk of disease recurrence. According to the World Cancer Research Fund, bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer in the world.

Stem cells know how to open up and unwind Posted: 28 Apr 2016 09:41 AM PDT Research has revealed a new understanding of how an open genome structure supports the long-term and unrestricted developmental potential in embryonic stem cells. This insight provides new avenues for improving the quality and stability of embryonic stem cells – an essential requirement to fulfil their promise in regenerative medicine.

Eating chocolate each day could reduce heart disease, diabetes risk Posted: 28 Apr 2016 09:41 AM PDT New study could lead to physicians recommending daily consumption of small amounts of dark chocolate. The new paper concludes that further observational research is needed to understand the role chocolate may play in insulin resistance and cardiometabolic disorders.

Fungal spores could ‘hijack’ human immune cells to spread infection Posted: 28 Apr 2016 09:41 AM PDT Scientists have announced a major breakthrough in their understanding of how the fungus Aspergillus terreus -- the cause of serious illness in humans -- can move around the body, rather than remaining in the lungs as with similar fungal infections.

Insect outbreaks reduce wildfire severity Posted: 28 Apr 2016 09:25 AM PDT Outbreaks by the mountain pine beetle and western spruce budworm can actually reduce wildfire severity, surprising new research shows. The findings contrast sharply with popular attitudes -- and some US forest policies.

Drug research could prevent secondary cataract Posted: 28 Apr 2016 09:24 AM PDT Scientists may have found a way to prevent complications from surgery to treat cataract -- the world's leading cause of blindness. It's estimated that by the year 2020, 32 million people will need cataract surgery -- which works well to restore vision, but can lead to 'secondary cataract' forming. The research team reveal how a new focus for drugs to treat age-related macular degeneration could reduce the need for millions of follow-up eye operations.

Some moths behave like butterflies to mate Posted: 28 Apr 2016 09:24 AM PDT A new study led by Universitat Autchr('242')noma de Barcelona researcher Vchr('237')ctor Sarto describes a striking example of evolutionary convergence in the order of Lepidoptera. A diurnal moth species has adopted sexual communication rules that are specific to butterflies and has even lost pheromone glands

Scientists reveal secret of antibiotic-resistant bacteria Posted: 28 Apr 2016 09:24 AM PDT Researchers have built a computer model of the interaction between different bacteria, and between bacteria and the gut wall. This has led them to explain how antibiotic-resistant microbes develop and spread.

Snails select sources of food based on dislike for smells rather than acceptable taste Posted: 28 Apr 2016 09:21 AM PDT Harnessing naturally occurring chemicals could be used as a means to protect crop seedlings from being eaten by common pests, a study suggests.

Don’t touch: How scientists study the reactions inside stars Posted: 28 Apr 2016 07:35 AM PDT Nuclear scientists have devised a method that allows scientists to determine key reaction rates at stellar energies using conventional nuclear reactions.

Simpler fertility test uses saliva to measure hormone levels Posted: 28 Apr 2016 07:35 AM PDT Like many would-be parents, Katie Brenner was advised to select the optimum time for conception based on blood and/or urine tests. She has now developed a quick, saliva-based method for measuring progesterone and estrogen and sending the results to a smart device.

Water storage made prehistoric settlement expansion possible in Amazonia Posted: 28 Apr 2016 07:31 AM PDT The pre-Columbian settlements in Amazonia were not limited to the vicinities of rivers and lakes. One example of this can be found in the Santarém region in Brazilian Amazonia, where most archaeological sites are situated in an upland area and are the result of an expansion of settlements in the last few centuries before the arrival of Europeans.

At last: Non-toxic and cheap thin-film solar cells for 'zero-energy' buildings Posted: 28 Apr 2016 07:30 AM PDT 'Zero-energy' buildings -- which generate as much power as they consume -- are now much closer after engineers have achieved the world's highest efficiency using flexible solar cells that are non-toxic and cheap to make.

Harsh out of necessity Posted: 28 Apr 2016 07:30 AM PDT Multiple sclerosis patients must not only address their unpleasant symptoms, they are also subject to unpredictable relapses, a condition that causes stress, say researchers. This condition has consequences for the 'moral cognition' of patients, who become particularly intransigent in moral judgments. This 'moral inflexibility' results from cognitive styles adopted to overcome the inconveniences of the disease.

'Tropical' parasitic disease emerges in Canadian Arctic Posted: 28 Apr 2016 07:28 AM PDT An outbreak of an intestinal parasite common in the tropics, known as Cryptosporidium, has been identified for the first time in the Arctic. The discovery was made in Nunavik, Quebec. The discovery could have long-term implications for the health of children in Nunavik and Nunavut's communities.

Are we alone? Setting some limits to our planet's uniqueness Posted: 28 Apr 2016 06:53 AM PDT Are humans unique and alone in the vast universe? This question -- summed up in the famous Drake equation -- has for a half-century been one of the most intractable and uncertain in science. But a new article shows that the recent discoveries of exoplanets combined with a broader approach to the question makes it possible to assign a new empirically valid probability to whether any other advanced technological civilizations have ever existed.

Gut bacteria may predict risk of life-threatening infections following chemotherapy Posted: 28 Apr 2016 06:52 AM PDT The bacteria in people's gut may predict their risk of life-threatening blood infections following high-dose chemotherapy, new research indicates. About 20,000 cancer patients receive high-dose chemotherapy each year in preparation for bone marrow or stem cell transplants. Typically about 20 to 40 percent develop blood infections following the chemotherapy. About 15-30 percent of those patients die as a result of the infections.

Sea-level rise summit coincides with flooding risks in south Florida due to the moon, high tides and inclement weather Posted: 28 Apr 2016 06:52 AM PDT Just as parts of South Florida are bracing for potential risks of flooding in low-lying areas due to the close proximity of the moon, high tides, sea-level rise and inclement weather, researchers are bringing together professionals from the private and public sectors to help identify solutions and develop adaptation pathways.

Breakthrough in the treatment of inherited genetic disease Posted: 28 Apr 2016 06:49 AM PDT A significant breakthrough has been made in the treatment of an inherited genetic disorder which damages muscle and nerve cells in the body. Pompe disease is caused by a defective gene that results in a deficiency of an enzyme called acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) which causes progressive muscle weakness in people of all ages.

Excessive empathy can impair understanding of others Posted: 28 Apr 2016 06:49 AM PDT People who empathize easily with others do not necessarily understand them well. To the contrary: Excessive empathy can even impair understanding as a new study conducted by psychologists has established.

Possible substitute for antibiotics to treat dangerous infections Posted: 28 Apr 2016 06:49 AM PDT Infections continue to threaten human health. With remarkable genetic flexibility, pathogenic organisms outsmart available therapies. Fortunately, microbial versatility is matched by the host immune system, which evolves in dialogue with the microbes. Therapies that enhance the beneficial effects of the immune response represent a promising, but underexplored, therapeutic alternative to antibiotics.

Possible extragalactic source of high-energy neutrinos Posted: 28 Apr 2016 06:49 AM PDT Nearly 10 billion years ago in a galaxy known as PKS B1424-418, a dramatic explosion occurred. Light from this blast began arriving at Earth in 2012. Now, an international team of astronomers have shown that a record-breaking neutrino seen around the same time likely was born in the same event.

Gestational exposure to type of antidepressants associated with adolescent offspring depression Posted: 28 Apr 2016 06:47 AM PDT The use of certain antidepressants during pregnancy can result in offspring depression by early adolescence. Using national register data from Finland, researchers found that children exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during gestation had more chance of being diagnosed with depression after age 12, reaching a cumulative incidence of 8.2% by age 15. For children exposed to maternal psychiatric illness but no antidepressants, the incidence was 1.9%. Rates of anxiety, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses did not differ significantly between the two groups.

Theory explains why gaming on touchscreens is clumsy Posted: 28 Apr 2016 06:47 AM PDT New research challenges the belief that touchscreens are worse input devices because they lack physical buttons. The reason is that key press timing in touchscreen input is unpredictable. When timing is made more predictable, performance improves.

Modifying an obesity drug could reduce side effects like anxiety and depression Posted: 28 Apr 2016 06:47 AM PDT A new version of an obesity drug that caused serious psychiatric side effects could help people lose pounds without experiencing the anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts previously associated with it. The research shows that the new version of the drug can still work without reaching the brain in rats, avoiding the side effects.

Augmented games can increase the diversity of sports Posted: 28 Apr 2016 06:47 AM PDT Augmented climbing wall increases social interaction, helps to attract wider target audiences and empowers users to become content creators.

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