ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Minor mergers are major drivers of star formation
• Drones to keep tabs on light pollution
• Meet RobERt, the dreaming detective for exoplanet atmospheres
• New, non-invasive method developed to wipe out cancerous tumors
• Moon discovered over dwarf planet Makemake in the Kuiper Belt
• How the spleen filters blood
• Scientists decode how anthrax toxin proteins might help treat cancerous tumors
• People can hear the difference in high resolution audio, study finds
• Study explores emotional intelligence and stress in social work
• Huge helium discovery 'a life-saving find'
• Chronic fatigue syndrome is in your gut, not your head
• New software improves ability to catalog bacterial pathogens
• Getting a grip on slippery cell membranes
• Picky eaters: Bumble bees prefer plants with nutrient-rich pollen
• Softwares for fMRI yield erroneous results
• Antibodies to dengue may alter course of Zika virus infection
• Water windfall' discovered beneath California's Central Valley
• Teaching an old drug new tricks to fight cytomegalovirus
• Scientists explain unusual and effective features in perovskite
• Gene hunters find rare inherited mutations linked to bipolar disorder
• Poisoning risk to small children from laundry pods
• Vegetation in Russian Arctic has memory
• Anti-anxiety medication limits empathetic behavior in rats
• Mercury's origins traced to rare meteorite
• Ladykiller: Artificial sweetener proves deadly for female flies
• Sign languages provide insight into universal linguistic short-cuts
• Virtual tissue technology reveals new drug target in polycystic kidney disease
• Want to learn a new language? Get a partner and play this video game
• Researchers devise tool to improve imaging of neuronal activity in the brain
• New, better way to build circuits for world's first useful quantum computers
• Why kid syndrome patients experience different sets of symptoms
• Could ancient wheat be the future of food?
• Drug that helps addicts may help treat cancer too, say experts
• Unproven claims run rampant in e-cigarette business
• Benefits of drinking coffee outweigh risks, review suggests
• NASA rover findings point to a more Earth-like Martian past
• Political pitfalls in handling ebola may carry over to zika
• Scientists develop nanomachines to diagnose illness
• Food’s transit time through body is a key factor in digestive health
• Researchers discover potential genetic trigger of autoimmune disease
• Link between gut bacteria, MS discovered
• Pain medicine helps preserve vision in model of inherited retinal degeneration
• Disrupted immunity in fetal brain is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders
• New tool for forecasting behavior of the microbiome
• Metabolic flexibility and immune defenses may influence species spread
• Anthrax capsule vaccine completely protects monkeys from lethal inhalational anthrax
• When it comes to brown dwarfs, 'how far?' is a key question
• Diabetes sniffer dogs? 'Scent' of hypos could aid development of new tests
• Building a smart cardiac patch
• Stress contagion possible amongst students, teachers
• Flipping a protein switch to illuminate brain functions
• New cancer drug target found in dual-function protein
• Lower levels of coenzyme Q10 in blood associated with multiple system atrophy
• Consumption of omega-3s linked to lower risk of fatal heart disease
• Global, evolving, and historic make-up of malaria species uncovered
• Epigenetics: New tool for precision medicine
• Global analysis finds unnecessary end-of-life treatment in hospitals is widespread
• Shampoo bottle that empties completely, every last drop
• Righting the wrongs of misfolded proteins
• Glorious, glowing Jupiter awaits Juno’s arrival

Minor mergers are major drivers of star formation Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:46 PM PDT Around half of the star formation in the local Universe arises from minor mergers between galaxies, according to data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The patch of sky called Stripe 82 is observed repeatedly to produce high-quality images of spiral galaxies. Disruptions to the shapes of these galaxies, caused by interactions with their smallest neighbors, pointed to increased star formation.

Drones to keep tabs on light pollution Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:46 PM PDT Astronomers have developed a light, low cost system, deployable on a drone, that could help everyone monitor and control light pollution.

Meet RobERt, the dreaming detective for exoplanet atmospheres Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:46 PM PDT Machine-learning techniques that mimic human recognition and dreaming processes are being deployed in the search for habitable worlds beyond our solar system. A deep belief neural network, called RobERt (Robotic Exoplanet Recognition), has been developed by astronomers to sift through detections of light emanating from distant planetary systems and retrieve spectral information about the gases present in the exoplanet atmospheres.

New, non-invasive method developed to wipe out cancerous tumors Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:44 PM PDT A newly patented method to kill cancer cells has been developed by an American lab. This discovery may tremendously help people with inoperable or hard-to-reach tumors, as well as young children stricken with cancer.

Moon discovered over dwarf planet Makemake in the Kuiper Belt Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:44 PM PDT Scientists have discovered an elusive, dark moon orbiting Makemake, one of the 'big four' dwarf planets populating the Kuiper Belt region at the edge of our solar system.

How the spleen filters blood Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:44 PM PDT Engineers have devised a computer model of how slits in the spleen filter blood. The model shows that these slits determine the size, shape, and flexibility of red blood cells.

Scientists decode how anthrax toxin proteins might help treat cancerous tumors Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:44 PM PDT Scientists describe how combining engineered anthrax toxin proteins and existing chemotherapy drugs could potentially yield a therapy to reduce or eliminate cancerous tumors. The findings, they note, are based on testing in mice.

People can hear the difference in high resolution audio, study finds Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:42 PM PDT Listeners can hear a difference between standard audio and better than CD quality, known as high resolution audio, according to a new study. The study compared data from over 12,000 different trials from 18 studies where participants were asked to discriminate between samples of music in different formats.

Study explores emotional intelligence and stress in social work Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:42 PM PDT Realistic workloads and ongoing emotional support are essential if social workers are to manage stress and perform their job effectively, according to new research. The study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence -- the ability to identify and manage emotions in oneself and others -- stress, burnout and social work practice. It also assessed whether emotional intelligence training for social workers would reduce their burnout rates over time.

Huge helium discovery 'a life-saving find' Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:42 PM PDT A new approach to gas exploration has discovered a huge helium gas field, which could address the increasingly critical shortage of this vital yet rare element.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is in your gut, not your head Posted: 27 Jun 2016 01:09 PM PDT Physicians have been mystified by chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition where normal exertion leads to debilitating fatigue that isn't alleviated by rest. There are no known triggers, and diagnosis requires lengthy tests administered by an expert. Now, for the first time, researchers report they have identified biological markers of the disease in gut bacteria and inflammatory microbial agents in the blood.

New software improves ability to catalog bacterial pathogens Posted: 27 Jun 2016 01:09 PM PDT A new software tool has been developed that will improve scientists' ability to identify and understand bacterial strains and accelerate vaccine development.

Getting a grip on slippery cell membranes Posted: 27 Jun 2016 01:09 PM PDT Within our cells, myosin-1 motors carry tiny bits of cargo along an inner framework called the cytoskeleton. To do so, they must tug on flexible membranes made of fatty molecules called lipids. Scientists have long wondered how the motors can maintain their grip on these slippery membranes. A new report offers a biophysical explanation.

Picky eaters: Bumble bees prefer plants with nutrient-rich pollen Posted: 27 Jun 2016 01:09 PM PDT Bumble bees have discriminating palates when it comes to their pollen meals, according to researchers. The researchers found that bumble bees can detect the nutritional quality of pollen, and that this ability helps them selectively forage among plant species to optimize their diets.

Softwares for fMRI yield erroneous results Posted: 27 Jun 2016 01:09 PM PDT Common statistical methods used to analyze brain activity through images taken with MRI scanners cannot be trusted, shows a new study.

Antibodies to dengue may alter course of Zika virus infection Posted: 27 Jun 2016 01:01 PM PDT Scientists find cross-reactivity that may influence plans for Zika and dengue vaccine studies.

Water windfall' discovered beneath California's Central Valley Posted: 27 Jun 2016 01:01 PM PDT New research indicates that California's Central Valley harbors three times more groundwater than previously estimated, but challenges to using it include pumping costs, ground subsidence and possible contamination from fracking and other oil and gas activities.

Teaching an old drug new tricks to fight cytomegalovirus Posted: 27 Jun 2016 11:06 AM PDT An old drug once mostly used to treat amebiasis -- a disease caused by a parasite -- and induce vomiting in cases of poisoning appears to also halt replication of cytomegalovirus (CMV), a herpesvirus that can cause serious disease in immunocompromised individuals, including those with HIV or organ transplant recipients, report researchers.

Scientists explain unusual and effective features in perovskite Posted: 27 Jun 2016 11:06 AM PDT Scientists have described how charge-carrying particles move in perovskite. Perovskites could be used in the solar batteries of future. New results will help scientists to search for a required perovskite structure by taking into account its fundamental features, rather than at random.

Gene hunters find rare inherited mutations linked to bipolar disorder Posted: 27 Jun 2016 11:06 AM PDT Using so-called next-generation genome sequencing, researchers have identified 84 potential inherited gene mutations that may contribute to the most severe forms of bipolar disorder. About 5.6 million Americans are estimated to have bipolar disorder, say the authors of a new report.

Poisoning risk to small children from laundry pods Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:33 AM PDT A new study says laundry pod detergents pose an increased risk of severe injury for young children over nonpod detergents.

Vegetation in Russian Arctic has memory Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:30 AM PDT Adaptation to climate change has a lag of several thousands of years, report researchers. The permafrost regions in the Arctic are among those areas of the world in which the temperature is rising particularly fast due to climate change. However, biologists are currently observing that the tree vegetation is only minimally adapting to these changes. In those areas where pine and spruce trees should be growing according to the air temperature, the Siberian larch is still thriving.

Anti-anxiety medication limits empathetic behavior in rats Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:29 AM PDT Rats given midazolam, an anti-anxiety medication, were less likely to free trapped companions because the drug lessened their empathy, according to a new study.

Mercury's origins traced to rare meteorite Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:29 AM PDT Geologists trace Mercury's origins to weird, rare meteorite, and find planet cooled dramatically shortly after it formed.

Ladykiller: Artificial sweetener proves deadly for female flies Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:29 AM PDT In testing multiple artificial sweeteners, a research team found that one was particularly deadly for female fruit flies -- and left males relatively untouched. D-mannitol is a sweetener typically used to sweeten gum or add a coating to hard candy or dried fruit for those with diabetes.

Sign languages provide insight into universal linguistic short-cuts Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:29 AM PDT Humans have a natural drive to reduce physical effort in nearly every activity, including using language. The ways that effort-reduction affect human language have been the subject of extensive research in the field of linguistics, though the overwhelming focus has been on spoken languages. By studying this effect in sign languages, two linguists have discovered a new way in which language is shaped by our innate drive to make physical activity easier.

Virtual tissue technology reveals new drug target in polycystic kidney disease Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:28 AM PDT Using virtual tissue technology, researchers have identified a potential new drug target in the fight against polycystic kidney disease, an illness with no effective FDA-approved treatment that affects 200,000 people per year in the United States. The study reveals that errors in how cells stick together give rise to two forms of kidney cysts.

Want to learn a new language? Get a partner and play this video game Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:28 AM PDT Using a language-learning game called 'Crystallize,' created by computer science faculty and students, researchers found that when players are required to work together they learn more words -- and enjoy the game more.

Researchers devise tool to improve imaging of neuronal activity in the brain Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:28 AM PDT In a partnership melding neuroscience and electrical engineering, researchers have developed a new technology that will allow neuroscientists to capture images of the brain almost 10 times larger than previously possible -- helping them better understand the behavior of neurons in the brain.

New, better way to build circuits for world's first useful quantum computers Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:28 AM PDT The era of quantum computers is one step closer. New research demonstrates a new way to pack a lot more quantum computing power into a much smaller space and with much greater control than ever before. The result is important for the development of quantum computers that can do computations that are impossible today for uses including cryptography and electronic data security.

Why kid syndrome patients experience different sets of symptoms Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:28 AM PDT A team researchers has compared the effects of two disease-causing mutations, potentially explaining why patients with the rare genetic disorder keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome can experience different sets of symptoms.

Could ancient wheat be the future of food? Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:28 AM PDT Researchers believe untapped consumer markets exist for ancient foods such as einkorn, emmer, and spelt. Two plant breeders argue that the consumer demand for high-quality, healthy food specialties presents an opportunity to reintroduce ancient wheat varieties and other plant species by creating 'farm to fork' supply chains that satisfy consumer demand; provide niche markets for small farmers, millers, and bakers; and increase agricultural biodiversity.

Drug that helps addicts may help treat cancer too, say experts Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:59 AM PDT The drug naltrexone (LDN), which is used to treat addicts, can have a beneficial impact on cancer patients if it is given in low doses, new research suggests.

Unproven claims run rampant in e-cigarette business Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:59 AM PDT Electronic cigarette makers and sellers are making all kinds of health claims, many of which likely won't stand up to scrutiny under recently announced FDA regulation, a new study has found.

Benefits of drinking coffee outweigh risks, review suggests Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:58 AM PDT Coffee is enjoyed by millions of people every day and the 'coffee experience' has become a staple of our modern life and culture. While the current body of research related to the effects of coffee consumption on human health has been contradictory, a new study found that the potential benefits of moderate coffee drinking outweigh the risks in adult consumers for the majority of major health outcomes considered.

NASA rover findings point to a more Earth-like Martian past Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:57 AM PDT Chemicals found in Martian rocks by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover suggest the Red Planet once had more oxygen in its atmosphere than it does now. The findings add to evidence revealing how Earth-like our neighboring planet once was.

Political pitfalls in handling ebola may carry over to zika Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:56 AM PDT If the United States responds to Zika the way it did to Ebola—and early indications are that in many ways it is—the country can expect missteps brought about by a lack of health care coordination and a lot of political finger pointing, according to a new analysis.

Scientists develop nanomachines to diagnose illness Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:56 AM PDT Tiny machines that build themselves and detect disease? Step inside the nanoscale world of one researcher's lab.

Food’s transit time through body is a key factor in digestive health Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:55 AM PDT The time it takes for ingested food to travel through the human gut – also called transit time – affects the amount of harmful degradation products produced along the way. This means that transit time is a key factor in a healthy digestive system.

Researchers discover potential genetic trigger of autoimmune disease Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:53 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered a potential genetic trigger of systemic autoimmune disease. The study discovered virus-like elements within the human genome linked to the development of two autoimmune diseases: lupus and Sjogren's syndrome.

Link between gut bacteria, MS discovered Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:53 AM PDT Researchers are now saying bad gut bacteria -- or an insufficient amount of good bacteria -- may have a direct link to multiple sclerosis.

Pain medicine helps preserve vision in model of inherited retinal degeneration Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:53 AM PDT A pain medicine that potently activates a receptor vital to a healthy retina appears to help preserve vision in a model of severe retinal degeneration, scientists report.

Disrupted immunity in fetal brain is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:53 AM PDT New research findings in mice may help explain how viral infection during pregnancy raises the risk of autism and schizophrenia in their offspring. The study may explain, among other things, how the mother's infection with the cytomegalovirus (CMV) during pregnancy, which affects her own and her fetus's immune system, increases the risk that her offspring will develop autism or schizophrenia, sometimes years later.

New tool for forecasting behavior of the microbiome Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:53 AM PDT A team of investigators has developed a suite of computer algorithms that can accurately predict the behavior of the microbiome -- the vast collection of microbes living on and inside the human body.

Metabolic flexibility and immune defenses may influence species spread Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:53 AM PDT Why most species are rare has long interested biologists, but until recently our understanding of the factors driving differences in range size has been limited. New research suggests metabolic flexibility and the immune response may both influence how rare or common a species is.

Anthrax capsule vaccine completely protects monkeys from lethal inhalational anthrax Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:53 AM PDT Vaccination with the anthrax capsule -- a naturally occurring component of the bacterium that causes the disease -- completely protected monkeys from lethal anthrax infection, according to a study. These results indicate that anthrax capsule is a highly effective vaccine component that should be considered for incorporation in future generation anthrax vaccines.

When it comes to brown dwarfs, 'how far?' is a key question Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:51 AM PDT Brown dwarfs are sometimes called failed stars. They're stars' dim, low-mass siblings and they fade in brightness over time. They're fascinating to astronomers for a variety of reasons, but much about them remains unknown. New work reports the distances of a number of brown dwarfs, as well as low-mass stars.

Diabetes sniffer dogs? 'Scent' of hypos could aid development of new tests Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:51 AM PDT A chemical found in our breath could provide a flag to warn of dangerously-low blood sugar levels in patients with type 1 diabetes, according to new research. The finding could explain why some dogs can be trained to spot the warning signs in patients.

Building a smart cardiac patch Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:49 AM PDT Researchers have created nanoscale electronic scaffolds that can be seeded with cardiac cells to produce a 'bionic' cardiac patch. Once implanted, the bionic patch could act similarly to a pacemaker -- delivering electrical shocks to correct arrhythmia, but the possibilities don't end there, say researchers.

Stress contagion possible amongst students, teachers Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:49 AM PDT Teacher burnout and student stress may be linked, according to a new study. The work is the first of its kind to examine the connection between teacher burnout and students' cortisol levels, which are a biological indicator of stress.

Flipping a protein switch to illuminate brain functions Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:49 AM PDT Researchers have engineered an artificial switch that could let scientists turn individual neurotransmitter receptors on and off. Shedding light on these receptors' role in memory formation could contribute to the development of new drugs for neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS.

New cancer drug target found in dual-function protein Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:44 AM PDT Scientists have identified a protein that launches cancer growth and appears to contribute to higher mortality in breast cancer patients. The new findings suggest that future therapies might target this protein, called GlyRS, to halt cancer growth.

Lower levels of coenzyme Q10 in blood associated with multiple system atrophy Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:44 AM PDT The neurodegenerative disease known as multiple system atrophy (MSA) affects both movement and involuntary bodily functions. Questions have been raised about the potential role of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) insufficiency in the development of MSA. Little is known about blood levels of CoQ10 in patients carrying either COQ2 mutations or no mutations.

Consumption of omega-3s linked to lower risk of fatal heart disease Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:44 AM PDT A global consortium of researchers banded together to conduct an epidemiological study analyzing specific omega-3 fatty acid biomarkers and heart disease. They found that blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids from seafood and plant-based foods are associated with a lower risk of fatal heart attack.

Global, evolving, and historic make-up of malaria species uncovered Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:44 AM PDT A team of scientists has uncovered the global, evolving, and historic make-up of Plasmodium vivax, one of the five species of malaria that infect humans. The research, which links the spread of the parasite back to colonial seafaring, among other phenomena, underscores the challenges health experts face in controlling the parasite.

Epigenetics: New tool for precision medicine Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:44 AM PDT Four new papers mark the feasibility of epigenetic analysis for clinical diagnostics and precision medicine. Epigenetic analysis addresses key limitations of genetic testing, helping to ensure that patients are accurately diagnosed and treated with the right drug at the right time.

Global analysis finds unnecessary end-of-life treatment in hospitals is widespread Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:44 AM PDT The largest systematic review of the care of elderly patients hospitalized at the end of their life has found more than one-third received invasive and potentially harmful medical treatments.

Shampoo bottle that empties completely, every last drop Posted: 27 Jun 2016 07:18 AM PDT Researchers have found a way to create the perfect texture inside plastic bottles to let soap products flow freely. The technique involves lining a plastic bottle with microscopic y-shaped structures that cradle the droplets of soap aloft above tiny air pockets, so that the soap never actually touches the inside of the bottle. The "y" structures are built up using much smaller nanoparticles made of silica, or quartz -- an ingredient in glass -- which, when treated further, won't stick to soap.

Righting the wrongs of misfolded proteins Posted: 27 Jun 2016 07:03 AM PDT Scientists have been studying compounds with anti-prion properties to address rare but fatal diseases. Researchers explain that though the causes of diseases associated with protein misfolding are often hotly debated, it is undeniable that the misfolding of proteins in each creates a cascade-like effect of problems. The scientists are working to get at the root of the problem, right down to the molecular level.

Glorious, glowing Jupiter awaits Juno’s arrival Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:59 AM PDT Stunning new images and the highest-resolution maps to date of Jupiter at thermal infrared wavelengths give a glowing view of Juno's target, a week ahead of the NASA mission's arrival at the giant planet. The maps reveal the present-day temperatures, composition and cloud coverage within Jupiter's dynamic atmosphere, and show how giant storms, vortices and wave patterns shape the appearance of the giant planet.

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