ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Tattoo therapy could ease chronic disease
• Bizarre new species of extinct reptile shows dinosaurs copied body, skull shapes of distant relatives
• New views of intracellular channel that controls skeletal muscle
• With great power comes great laser science
• Farming with forests
• Cesarean section carries increased risk for postpartum venous thromboembolism (VTE)
• Researchers take a new step towards non-antibiotic bladder infection therapies
• New model could point way to microbiome forecasting in the ocean
• New method to predict skin stretchiness could help burn victims grow new skin
• Culex mosquitoes do not transmit Zika virus, study finds
• Fish oil may help improve mood in veterans
• Food scientists using X-rays to figure out fats
• How a native plant ended up on reality TV, and why it's at risk
• Floods severely affect children, young people
• 'Sixth sense' may be more than just a feeling
• Hubble finds planet orbiting pair of stars
• Sharpshooting nanoparticles hit the target
• Applying heat to stay on track
• New study of CRISPR-Cas9 technology shows potential to improve crop efficiency
• Fungus-fighting compound found in Drug Discovery Center Library
• Tracking down the origin of mercury contamination in human hair
• Cosmology safe as universe has no sense of direction
• When we're unsure how to respond, how does our brain decide whether a situation is pleasant or not?
• Fear of stigma or sanction keeps many doctors from revealing mental health issues, study finds
• Is it okay for a doctor to attend a patient's funeral?
• Swarms of magnetic bacteria could be used to deliver drugs to tumors
• Key requirement for regulatory T cell function discovered
• Researcher finds gene that reduces female mosquitoes
• Drug restores hair growth in patients with alopecia areata
• New research delimits the possible causes of celiac disease
• Edible crickets can be reared on weeds and cassava plant tops
• The scroll from En-Gedi: A high-tech recovery mission
• Popeye was right: There’s energy in that spinach
• Testing Ecopipam's effectiveness in treating stuttering
• New insights into potent cancer tumor suppressor gene
• New device detects hazardous substances in water
• Youthful DNA in old age
• See it before it's gone: The paradox of 'last chance tourism' on the Great Barrier Reef
• Robot doesn't have to behave and look like a human
• Smoking has a very broad, long-lasting impact on the human genome
• Study challenges widely held view about children's moral judgement
• Biological 'dark matter' molecule plays surprise role in heart failure
• How can we make tomorrow's doctors healthier now?
• Getting ahead of the 'curve' in magnetic study
• Drug may prevent, reduce progression of MS in mice
• Working mothers most in need of social support are less likely to receive it
• Twin jets pinpoint the heart of an active galaxy
• Olfactory glomeruli have a unique structure
• Shaping sound waves in 3D: Tech and medical applications
• Unexpected cause of mutation in cancer identified
• Not all bioplastics are created equal
• Marine life showing its true colors
• Delaying motor neuron loss
• Reef fish see colors that humans cannot
• New strategy identified for treating acute myeloid leukemia
• Neutrophils are key to harnessing anti-tumor immune response from radiation therapy, study finds
• Shedding light on the mutational landscape of the most common pediatric cancer
• Molecular switches: Two ways to turn
• The death of a planet nursery?
• 'Likes' less likely to affect self-esteem of people with purpose

Tattoo therapy could ease chronic disease Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:17 AM PDT A temporary tattoo to help control a chronic disease might someday be possible, according to scientists who tested newly created antioxidant nanoparticles.

Bizarre new species of extinct reptile shows dinosaurs copied body, skull shapes of distant relatives Posted: 22 Sep 2016 09:43 AM PDT Iconic dinosaur shapes were present for at least a hundred million years on our planet in animals before those dinosaurs themselves actually appeared.

New views of intracellular channel that controls skeletal muscle Posted: 22 Sep 2016 09:43 AM PDT New details of the structure and function of an intracellular channel that controls the contraction of skeletal muscle have been uncovered by new research. The findings could lead to new treatments for a variety of muscle disorders.

With great power comes great laser science Posted: 22 Sep 2016 09:43 AM PDT Scientists have found a way to compress ultrashort laser pulses, increasing its peak power to half a terawatt – which is equivalent to the output of hundreds of nuclear reactors.

Farming with forests Posted: 22 Sep 2016 09:40 AM PDT In the race to feed a growing population, it is important to consider sustainability. Researchers are promoting the practice of agroforestry—the intentional planting of trees and shrubs with crops or livestock—to achieve sustainability goals. A number of practical and policy challenges have prevented adoption of agroforestry practices on a large scale in the U.S. If adopted more widely, agroforestry could benefit wildlife, soil and water quality, and the global climate.

Cesarean section carries increased risk for postpartum venous thromboembolism (VTE) Posted: 22 Sep 2016 09:40 AM PDT Women are four times more likely to suffer a VTE after a cesarean-section compared to a vaginal birth, according to a new study. Roughly one-third of all births in Europe and North America now occur via cesarean section.

Researchers take a new step towards non-antibiotic bladder infection therapies Posted: 22 Sep 2016 09:39 AM PDT Cystitis is a common infection, particularly in women. Although usually treatable with antibiotics, patients can be plagued with recurrent and chronic infections. When ascending to the kidneys, bladder infections can turn into a life threatening complications, a particular concern in case of multidrug-resistant strains of the causative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterium. A new step towards non-antibiotic bladder infection therapies has now been taken by researchers.

New model could point way to microbiome forecasting in the ocean Posted: 22 Sep 2016 08:28 AM PDT A new mathematical model integrates environmental and molecular sequence information to better explain how microbial networks drive nutrient and energy cycling in marine ecosystems.

New method to predict skin stretchiness could help burn victims grow new skin Posted: 22 Sep 2016 07:44 AM PDT A method to measure the limit to which human skin can be stretched has been developed by researchers, which could help to grow new skin for burn victims.

Culex mosquitoes do not transmit Zika virus, study finds Posted: 22 Sep 2016 07:44 AM PDT Important results in the fight against Zika virus has been identified by researchers: Culex mosquitoes do not appear to transmit Zika virus.

Fish oil may help improve mood in veterans Posted: 22 Sep 2016 07:44 AM PDT Low concentration of fish oil in the blood and lack of physical activity may contribute to the high levels of depressed mood among soldiers returning from combat, according to researchers.

Food scientists using X-rays to figure out fats Posted: 22 Sep 2016 07:44 AM PDT Researchers studying the intimate structure of edible fats are getting help from the United States Department of Energy. The researchers hope to replace unhealthful trans and saturated fats with better non-saturated versions – all without compromising texture.

How a native plant ended up on reality TV, and why it's at risk Posted: 22 Sep 2016 07:43 AM PDT In one of television's more bizarre recent offerings, the History Channel show "Appalachian Outlaws" follows a band of West Virginians as they hunt rugged forests for American ginseng, a medicinal root worth hundreds of dollars per pound. The show has high stakes: These men poach on federal lands, risking fines and jail time, and guard private patches with shotguns and homemade land mines. Most of them are out of work, out of savings and worried about paying for food and heat. Ginseng gives them a way to get by.

Floods severely affect children, young people Posted: 22 Sep 2016 07:42 AM PDT Research with flood-affected children reveals serious impacts on well-being but also a desire to take on a role in flood risk management. Factors impacting on children's well-being include: loss of valued personal and family possessions, friendship networks, familiar spaces, education; experience of fear, anxiety, poverty, isolation, unfairness, destruction, stress, uncertainty, being ignored/misunderstood; lack of sleep and recreation; deterioration in diet, space and housing conditions; lack of flood education provision in schools for children and all staff.

'Sixth sense' may be more than just a feeling Posted: 22 Sep 2016 07:12 AM PDT With the help of two young patients with a unique neurological disorder, scientists have discovered that a gene called PIEZO2 controls specific aspects of human touch and proprioception, a "sixth sense" describing awareness of one's body in space. Mutations in the gene caused the two to have movement and balance problems and the loss of some forms of touch. Despite their difficulties, they both appeared to cope with these challenges by relying heavily on vision and other senses.

Hubble finds planet orbiting pair of stars Posted: 22 Sep 2016 07:07 AM PDT Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, and a trick of nature, have confirmed the existence of a planet orbiting two stars in the system OGLE-2007-BLG-349, located 8,000 light-years away towards the center of our galaxy. The Hubble observations represent the first time such a three-body system has been confirmed using the gravitational microlensing technique.

Sharpshooting nanoparticles hit the target Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:59 AM PDT Multi stimuli-responsive nanocapsules selectively deliver drugs to exactly where they are needed, say researchers. The researchers created the multifunctional nanocapsules by wrapping magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles inside a biocompatible polymer coat that could be tuned to respond to acidity or temperature. The team has already shown that the nanoparticles can selectively deliver the toxic antitumor drug doxorubicin to cancer cells.

Applying heat to stay on track Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:59 AM PDT As the density of data stored on a hard drive gets close to multiple terabytes per square centimeter, the precision of the internal components is becoming increasingly significant. A clever electro-thermal actuator and lever system keeps hard drive recording heads on track, report scientists.

New study of CRISPR-Cas9 technology shows potential to improve crop efficiency Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:58 AM PDT A team's finding that CRISPR-Cas9 is a reliable method for multi-gene editing of this particular plant species has been released in a new article. The technology, a genome-editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9, revolutionized the life sciences when it appeared on the market in 2012. It is now proving useful in the plant science community as a powerful tool for the improvement of agricultural crops.

Fungus-fighting compound found in Drug Discovery Center Library Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:58 AM PDT A compound has been found that blocks the growth of a fungus that causes deadly lung infections and allergic reactions in people with compromised immune systems.

Tracking down the origin of mercury contamination in human hair Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:58 AM PDT Mercury is a potent neurotoxin present in our daily lives and our body can accumulate it over the years. Food consumption, such as fish and rice, is the most common source of mercury exposure. Mercury can be found in dental amalgams, compact fluorescence lamps, vaccines, drugs, and electronics or can be used in artisanal gold mining. Finding the source of mercury contamination in our bodies is crucial for treatment and forensic investigations, but at present knowledge of the molecular form of mercury in human tissues and fluids, which could indicate source, is limited.

Cosmology safe as universe has no sense of direction Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:38 AM PDT The universe is expanding uniformly. Space isn't stretching in a preferred direction or spinning.

When we're unsure how to respond, how does our brain decide whether a situation is pleasant or not? Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:34 AM PDT Emotionally confusing video clips were used in a new study that revealed different neutral networks that operate when we perceive a situation as positive or negative.

Fear of stigma or sanction keeps many doctors from revealing mental health issues, study finds Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:34 AM PDT Even as doctors across America encourage their patients to share concerns about depression, anxiety and other concerns, a new study suggests the doctors may be less likely to seek help for those same concerns about themselves.

Is it okay for a doctor to attend a patient's funeral? Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:33 AM PDT New research has shed light on how many doctors are attending the funerals of their patients and the reasons behind their choice. The researchers say more needs to be done within the medical profession to openly discuss the issue.

Swarms of magnetic bacteria could be used to deliver drugs to tumors Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:33 AM PDT One of the biggest challenges in cancer therapy is being able to sufficiently deliver chemotherapy drugs to tumors without exposing healthy tissues to their toxic effects. Magnetic bacteria are a promising vehicle for more efficiently delivering tumor-fighting drugs, researchers have demonstrated.

Key requirement for regulatory T cell function discovered Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:33 AM PDT A key requirement for the function of regulatory T cells—immune cells that play a critical role in many biological processes, from suppressing inflammation and deadly autoimmunity to helping tumors evade immune attack—is now better understood thanks to new research. The findings also unravel the complex role these cells can play in the genesis and progression of certain gastrointestinal cancers.

Researcher finds gene that reduces female mosquitoes Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:33 AM PDT Placing a particular Y chromosome gene on the autosomes of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes — a species responsible for transmitting malaria — killed off 100 percent of all female embryos that inherited this gene, researchers report.

Drug restores hair growth in patients with alopecia areata Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:33 AM PDT Seventy-five percent of patients with an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss had significant hair regrowth after treatment with ruxolitinib, according to a study.

New research delimits the possible causes of celiac disease Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:31 AM PDT The amount of gluten could be a more important clue than breast-feeding or the timing of the introduction of gluten for continued research into the causes of celiac disease (gluten intolerance). This is one of the findings from several extensive studies of children with an increased genetic risk of celiac disease.

Edible crickets can be reared on weeds and cassava plant tops Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:31 AM PDT To become a sustainable alternative to meat, reared crickets must be fed feeds other than the chicken feed that is most commonly used today. Researchers now present a study that shows that there are weeds and agricultural by-products that actually work as single ingredients in feeds for crickets. The study was conducted in Cambodia, where many children suffer from malnutrition and where the need for cheap protein is large.

The scroll from En-Gedi: A high-tech recovery mission Posted: 22 Sep 2016 06:21 AM PDT Archeologists have further unlocked writings in the ancient En-Gedi scroll -- the first severely damaged, ink-based scroll to be unrolled and identified noninvasively. Through virtual unwrapping, they have revealed it to be the earliest copy of a Pentateuchal book -- Leviticus -- ever found in a Holy Ark.

Popeye was right: There’s energy in that spinach Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:57 AM PDT Using a simple membrane extract from spinach leaves, researchers have developed a cell that produces electricity and hydrogen from water using sunlight. Based on photosynthesis, and technology paves the way for clean fuels from renewable sources.

Testing Ecopipam's effectiveness in treating stuttering Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:57 AM PDT Stuttering, an interruption in the flow of speech, affects about three million Americans. Currently, no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug treatments are available. In an attempt to find a new medicine, a research team will conduct a study to determine how effective ecopipam, an orally administered medication, is as treatment against stuttering.

New insights into potent cancer tumor suppressor gene Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:54 AM PDT TP53 is one of the most potent genes in the human genome at preventing cancer and hence is termed a tumor suppressor gene, explain researchers. The TP53 gene has even greater anti-cancer activity than previously thought, a new study suggests.

New device detects hazardous substances in water Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:54 AM PDT A device for the rapid analysis of liquids on the content of hazardous substances - such as heavy metals - has been developed by researchers, who have used a method based on polymer optodes, very small plastic matrices that can be made sensitive to specific substances by means of special reagents. The matrices change color and their intensity depending on the concentration of the substance. The device is mobile, can carry out analysis in situ even at low temperatures, and its cost is many times less than the price of a spectrophotometer, the most used device for chemical analysis.

Youthful DNA in old age Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:53 AM PDT The DNA of young people is regulated to express the right genes at the right time. With the passing of years, the regulation of the DNA gradually gets disrupted, which is an important cause of aging. A study of over 3,000 people shows that this is not true for everyone: there are people whose DNA appears youthful despite their advanced years.

See it before it's gone: The paradox of 'last chance tourism' on the Great Barrier Reef Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:53 AM PDT Many of the tourists now flocking to see Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR) are hoping to 'see it before it's gone' in the latest example of what's come to be known as 'Last Chance Tourism (LCT)'.

Robot doesn't have to behave and look like a human Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:53 AM PDT The R2-D2 robot from Star Wars doesn't communicate in human language but is, nevertheless, capable of showing its intentions. For human-robot interaction, the robot does not have to be a true 'humanoid,' provided that its signals are designed in the right way, say researchers.

Smoking has a very broad, long-lasting impact on the human genome Posted: 21 Sep 2016 06:51 PM PDT Smoking leaves its "footprint" on the human genome in the form of DNA methylation, a process by which cells control gene activity, according to new research. Even after someone stops smoking, the effects of smoking remain in their DNA.

Study challenges widely held view about children's moral judgement Posted: 21 Sep 2016 04:57 PM PDT Children's ability to make moral judgements has often been substantially underestimated, new research indicates. When making moral judgements, adults tend to focus on people's intentions rather than on the outcomes of their actions: hurting someone intentionally is much worse than hurting them accidentally. However, the prevailing view in developmental psychology is that younger children's moral judgements are mainly based on the outcomes of actions, rather than the intentions of those involved. However, despite decades of research there is still disagreement about whether this claim is correct.

Biological 'dark matter' molecule plays surprise role in heart failure Posted: 21 Sep 2016 02:19 PM PDT A molecule that appears to play a key role in the development of heart failure has been discovered by researchers. The scientists found that blocking the molecule, known as chaer, in animal studies prevented the animals from developing heart failure.

How can we make tomorrow's doctors healthier now? Posted: 21 Sep 2016 02:09 PM PDT A randomized study aims to learn whether wearing activity trackers and incorporating physical activity education helps student-physicians improve their activity levels. Researchers say they're motivated by studies suggesting that physical activity habits of medical students influence how they treat and counsel patients after graduation.

Getting ahead of the 'curve' in magnetic study Posted: 21 Sep 2016 02:09 PM PDT Scientists noticed that magnetic skyrmions – small electrically uncharged circular structures with a spiraling magnetic pattern – do get deflected by an applied current, much like a curveball gets deflected by airflow.

Drug may prevent, reduce progression of MS in mice Posted: 21 Sep 2016 02:09 PM PDT The experimental drug laquinimod may prevent the development or reduce the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) in mice, according to new research.

Working mothers most in need of social support are less likely to receive it Posted: 21 Sep 2016 02:08 PM PDT A new study links nonstandard work schedules to weaker private safety nets, particularly for African-Americans, the less educated and those who don't work 9-to-5. However, there also is evidence that switching from a standard to a nonstandard schedule increases the safety net. These mixed results suggest that the working mothers most in need social support are the least likely to actually have access to it.

Twin jets pinpoint the heart of an active galaxy Posted: 21 Sep 2016 02:01 PM PDT Two particle jets shoot out from the heart of active galaxy NGC 1052 at the speed of light, apparently originating in the vicinity of a massive black hole. Researchers have now measured the magnetic fields in this area. They observed the bright, very compact structure of just two light days in size using a global ensemble of millimeter-wavelength telescopes. The magnetic field value recorded at the event horizon of the black hole was between 0.02 and 8.3 tesla. The team concludes that the magnetic fields provide enough magnetic energy to power the twin jets.

Olfactory glomeruli have a unique structure Posted: 21 Sep 2016 01:43 PM PDT Scientists have quantified and mapped the functional units of the olfactory center in the brains of vinegar flies responsible for the perception of odors. The basic units of the olfactory system in the fly brain provide references to their function and ecological relevance.

Shaping sound waves in 3D: Tech and medical applications Posted: 21 Sep 2016 01:41 PM PDT Sound can now be structured in three dimensions. Researchers have found a way of generating acoustic holograms, which could improve ultrasound diagnostics and material testing. The holograms can also be used to move and manipulate particles.

Unexpected cause of mutation in cancer identified Posted: 21 Sep 2016 01:26 PM PDT Researchers looking for a missing cause of a common type of mutation in breast cancer cells have uncovered the biochemical culprit and found that it may also be a general source of mutation in other cancer types.

Not all bioplastics are created equal Posted: 21 Sep 2016 01:22 PM PDT Conventional plastics are seen as environmentally unfriendly because they're made from fossil fuels. As plastic production grows -- it's expected to double over the next 20 years -- plant-derived polyethylene terephthalate (BioPET) has been touted as a more environmentally friendly alternative to PET, a plastic primarily used in beverage bottles. But a new study suggests that's not always the case.

Marine life showing its true colors Posted: 21 Sep 2016 01:13 PM PDT Cephalopods -- cuttlefish, squid and octopus -- are renowned for their fast color changes and remarkable camouflage abilities. Now researchers have established that colorful coastal cephalopods are actually colorblind -- but can still manage to blend beautifully with their surroundings.

Delaying motor neuron loss Posted: 21 Sep 2016 01:12 PM PDT A potential treatment to delay motor neuron loss and symptoms has been discovered in the inevitably fatal motor neuron disease (MND). Researchers have reported that triheptanoin, a synthetic triglyceride oil, might help to address problems with energy metabolism associated with the neurodegenerative disease.

Reef fish see colors that humans cannot Posted: 21 Sep 2016 01:03 PM PDT Researchers have established that reef fish see colors that humans cannot.

New strategy identified for treating acute myeloid leukemia Posted: 21 Sep 2016 12:58 PM PDT A promising new approach to the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been discovered by a team of researchers. In their report, the investigators have identified a crucial dysfunction in blood cell development that underlies AML and show that inhibiting the action of a specific enzyme prompts the differentiation of leukemic cells, reducing their number and decreasing their ability to propagate the cancer.

Neutrophils are key to harnessing anti-tumor immune response from radiation therapy, study finds Posted: 21 Sep 2016 12:56 PM PDT Combining targeted radiation therapy with a neutrophil stimulant enhances anti-tumor immunity, according to new research into cancer immunology.

Shedding light on the mutational landscape of the most common pediatric cancer Posted: 21 Sep 2016 12:56 PM PDT Genomic alterations have been discovered in pediatric relapsed ALL that cause both therapy resistance and improved clinical response to multi-agent chemotherapy treatment.

Molecular switches: Two ways to turn Posted: 21 Sep 2016 12:42 PM PDT Chemists have synthesized a new photo-activatable molecule, which shows 2-dimensional switching behavior -- an essential prerequisite for the construction of complex molecular machines.

The death of a planet nursery? Posted: 21 Sep 2016 12:36 PM PDT The dusty disk surrounding the star TW Hydrae exhibits circular features that may signal the formation of protoplanets. Astrophysicist argue, however, that the innermost actually points to the impending dispersal of the disk.

'Likes' less likely to affect self-esteem of people with purpose Posted: 21 Sep 2016 12:22 PM PDT How many likes did I get? The rush of self-esteem that comes with the ubiquitous thumbs-up has more people asking that question, as Facebook and other social media sites offer more ways for friends to endorse photos and posts.

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