ScienceDaily: Top News

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• It's a myth that baby boomers have a stronger work ethic than later generations
• Chaos in cosmos: System of two stars with three planet-forming discs of gas
• Fruit fly neurons hold the key to the molecular causes of mental diseases
• Astroglia zip the two halves of the brain together
• Why naked mole rats feel no pain
• Morel mushrooms pop up, cluster together after wildfires
• High-protein diet curbs metabolic benefits of weight loss
• Females react differently than males to social isolation
• Encrypting medical photos with chaos
• Research findings may lead to promising Zika virus drug targets
• New lab mimics the sound of any room
• The meat paradox
• Research points to ways to improve the therapeutic potential of stem cells
• Global sustainability projects offer hope for the future
• Scientists uncover how spreading cancer adapts to its environment
• Wild chimpanzee mothers teach young to use tools
• Major racial bias found in leading genomics databases
• New study finds 'amplifier' helps make connections in the fetal brain
• Movement of mTORC1 observed for the first time in live cells
• New 3D design for mobile microbatteries
• Typing while driving could be more safe with simple text entry technique
• Successful trial shows tablet lowers risk of disease returning for kidney cancer patients
• Lifting the veil on Queen of Sheba's perfume
• Rainforest: Roads for species conservation?
• New immune cell subset associated with progression to type 1 diabetes
• Healing effect of fecal microbiota transplantation lasts for long
• Viral particles support prophylactic vaccination against breast cancer
• Roadmap to get new cancer scans into clinic
• New molecular mechanism revealed for genetic mutations in aggressive cancer cells
• Hydrogen-powered passenger ferry in San Francisco Bay is possible, says study
• Jupiter’s spooky sounds: Emissions from Jupiter’s auroras captured
• First human clinical trial for nicotinamide riboside
• Metamaterial uses light to control its motion
• Iranian coastal waters: New home to a rarely seen venomous sea snake
• Mice sing like a jet-engine
• Stable molecular state of photons and artificial atom discovered
• Megadrought risks in southwest U.S. soar as atmosphere warms
• Was the secret spice in primal gene soup a thickener?
• Lights, action, electrons!
• Brain modulyzer provides interactive window into the brain
• 'Snotty gobble' could be good weed controller
• Altering the 'flavor' of humans could help fight malaria
• Lazarus ice
• How cells move
• Diabetes: New hope for better wound healing
• Personalized medicine: Smart drug clears fat from liver, blood
• Protein with multiple duties
• Optimizing fuel filters via simulations
• Optimizing sludge treatment
• Polyamides from a waste stream of the wood industry
• Obesity-linked conditions are projected to rise sharply in children
• New approach for screening toxic chemicals mimics mammal senses
• Are natural alternatives to estrogen replacement therapy safe?
• Significant cost differences found between breast cancer chemotherapy regimens
• Stem cells from jaw bone help repair damaged cartilage
• Mars-bound astronauts face chronic dementia risk from galactic cosmic ray exposure
• Cortisol-free rheumatoid arthritis medication also works for rare eye disease
• Intestinal diversity protects against asthma
• Longer disease-free survival in phase III trial of sunitinib as adjuvant treatment for kidney cancer
• Significant survival gains from neoadjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk soft tissue sarcoma

It's a myth that baby boomers have a stronger work ethic than later generations Posted: 11 Oct 2016 10:56 AM PDT There is no truth to the popular belief that members of the so-called baby boomer generation have a greater work ethic than people born a decade or two later. This is according to scientists who completed a comprehensive analysis of relevant studies.

Chaos in cosmos: System of two stars with three planet-forming discs of gas Posted: 11 Oct 2016 10:43 AM PDT A star with a ring of planets orbiting around it -- that is the picture we know from our own solar system and from many of the thousands of exoplanets observed in recent years. But now researchers have discovered a system consisting of two stars with three rotating planet-forming accretion discs around them. It is a binary star where each star has its own planet-forming disc and in addition, there is one large shared disc. All three planet-forming discs are misaligned in relation to one another.

Fruit fly neurons hold the key to the molecular causes of mental diseases Posted: 11 Oct 2016 10:40 AM PDT New research involving the removal and analysis of single neurons from fruit fly embryos has revealed insights into the causes of mental diseases such as bipolar disease.

Astroglia zip the two halves of the brain together Posted: 11 Oct 2016 10:39 AM PDT Scientists have identified the cellular origins of the corpus callosum, the 200 million nerve fibers that connect the two hemispheres of the brain. A study of mice and human brains shows that during development, astroglia, the main supporting cells of the brain, weave themselves between the right and left lobes, and form the bridge for axons to grow across the gap. Without these astroglia, the corpus callosum doesn't form correctly, causing a condition called callosal agenesis -- which affects 1 out of 4,000 people -- and a range of developmental disorders.

Why naked mole rats feel no pain Posted: 11 Oct 2016 10:36 AM PDT The African naked mole rat is an odd, homely creature with the closest thing to real-life super powers on earth. These small rodents can live for 32 years, they are cancer-resistant, and they are impervious to some types of pain.

Morel mushrooms pop up, cluster together after wildfires Posted: 11 Oct 2016 10:00 AM PDT A new paper is one of only a handful of reports documenting and analyzing the patterns of morel mushroom growth following a wildfire. Within Yosemite National Park, morels were most likely to cluster in groups across burned areas.

High-protein diet curbs metabolic benefits of weight loss Posted: 11 Oct 2016 10:00 AM PDT Dieters sometimes consume extra protein to stave off hunger and prevent loss of muscle tissue that often comes with weight loss. But in a study of 34 postmenopausal women with obesity, researchers found that eating too much protein eliminates an important health benefit of weight loss: improvement in insulin sensitivity, which is critical to lowering diabetes risk.

Females react differently than males to social isolation Posted: 11 Oct 2016 09:59 AM PDT While male and female mice have similar responses to physical stress, research suggests females, not males, feel stressed when alone.

Encrypting medical photos with chaos Posted: 11 Oct 2016 09:57 AM PDT Chaos and confusion could be used to encrypt color photos and protect them from prying eyes, according to computer scientists in Algeria. Writing in a new article, the team describes a new algorithm that generates pseudo-random sequences that change a plain image into a ciphered image in a single step leading to a file that cannot be cracked.

Research findings may lead to promising Zika virus drug targets Posted: 11 Oct 2016 09:57 AM PDT Following recent outbreaks of Zika virus and the potential health dangers of infection, especially during pregnancy, scientists are striving to rapidly develop effective antiviral drugs that can halt transmission. Investigators who recently performed detailed analyses of the targets of a key enzyme of the Zika virus have uncovered peculiarities of the viral enzyme, called the NS3 protease.

New lab mimics the sound of any room Posted: 11 Oct 2016 09:57 AM PDT Researchers have developed a sound laboratory that can reproduce the acoustics of any environment from cars to concert halls. One goal is better design of sound systems for cars.

The meat paradox Posted: 11 Oct 2016 09:56 AM PDT When we eat beef, chicken wings, hot dogs or spaghetti bolognese, we do it in denial. Already by referring to what we eat as "beef" instead of "cow", we have created a distance between our food and an animal with abilities to think and feel. Philosophers and animal rights activists have long claimed that we avoid thinking about the animal we eat, and that this reduces the feeling of unease. This mechanism is described by the "disassociation hypothesis".

Research points to ways to improve the therapeutic potential of stem cells Posted: 11 Oct 2016 09:56 AM PDT Stem cells hold great promise for transforming medical care related to a diverse range of conditions, but the cells often lose some of their therapeutic potential when scientists try to grow and expand them in the laboratory. A new study, however, provides insights on the cellular mechanisms that might be targeted to help certain stem cells-called human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs)-maintain properties needed to make them clinically useful.

Global sustainability projects offer hope for the future Posted: 11 Oct 2016 09:56 AM PDT Global examples of sustainability projects, which offer a positive future for the environment, have been identified by an international group of researchers. They gathered examples of positive initiatives from communities around the world for a website they created - Good Anthropocene. These ranged from projects involving community-based radiation monitoring in Japan and ones designed to create healthier school lunches in California, to puffin patrols in Newfoundland that save baby birds from traffic.

Scientists uncover how spreading cancer adapts to its environment Posted: 11 Oct 2016 09:56 AM PDT Spreading tumor cells are able to adapt their metabolism to the specific organs they are invading. Researchers examined lung cancer metastases that originated from breast tumors, discovering that the two tumors have different ways of converting nutrients into biomass building blocks. Thanks to these findings, scientists may be able to develop new therapies that target the metabolism of cancer cells, thereby halting a tumor's growth.

Wild chimpanzee mothers teach young to use tools Posted: 11 Oct 2016 06:01 AM PDT The first documented evidence of wild chimpanzee mothers teaching their offspring to use tools has been captured by video cameras set to record chimpanzee tool-using activity at termite mounds in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo, according to new research from anthropologists.

Major racial bias found in leading genomics databases Posted: 11 Oct 2016 06:01 AM PDT Researchers have confirmed for the first time that two of the top genomic databases, which are in wide use today by clinical geneticists, reflect a measurable bias toward genetic data based on European ancestry over that of African ancestry.

New study finds 'amplifier' helps make connections in the fetal brain Posted: 11 Oct 2016 06:01 AM PDT Early neural connections are sparse, weak, and unreliable. Now researchers have discovered that fetal brains use a special amplifier in order to transmit signals.

Movement of mTORC1 observed for the first time in live cells Posted: 11 Oct 2016 05:59 AM PDT What do proteins and wild bears have in common? Just like tagging wild animals aims to allow researchers to observe and track their natural behavior, molecular researchers use tags to track the minute movements of proteins in cells. Despite the difference in the size of the target, the challenge remains the same: how to tag the object without changing its usual behavior.

New 3D design for mobile microbatteries Posted: 11 Oct 2016 05:59 AM PDT In the race towards miniaturization, a research team has succeeded in improving the energy density of a rechargeable battery without increasing its size (limited to a few square millimeters in mobile sensors). This feat was achieved by developing a 3D structure made of microtubes, the first step towards producing a complete microbattery. The first experiments have demonstrated the excellent conductivity of the battery's solid electrolyte, report scientists.

Typing while driving could be more safe with simple text entry technique Posted: 11 Oct 2016 05:59 AM PDT A combination of a head-up display and the keypad familiar to us from mobiles in the 2000s significantly improved the performance of drivers who were texting while driving.

Successful trial shows tablet lowers risk of disease returning for kidney cancer patients Posted: 11 Oct 2016 05:54 AM PDT Potentially practice-changing results have come out of an international study on how clinicians can reduce the risk of disease returning for kidney cancer patients. A trial demonstrates that taking oral tablet Sunitinib for one year reduces the likelihood of cancer returning for kidney cancer patients following removal of the kidney.

Lifting the veil on Queen of Sheba's perfume Posted: 11 Oct 2016 05:53 AM PDT It is one of the oldest fragrances in the world, mentioned more than twenty times in the Bible. Now researchers have discovered the components that give frankincense its distinctive odor: two molecules found for the first time in nature, named "olibanic acids" by the scientists.

Rainforest: Roads for species conservation? Posted: 11 Oct 2016 05:53 AM PDT The impact of old forest roads on the species diversity in the rainforest of Central Guyana has been the focus of recent research. Investigators reached the conclusion that the established roads may be of use for amphibians and should therefore not necessarily be closed or restored to their natural state. For example, ruts in the roads filled with accumulated water can serve as spawning grounds for frogs during dry periods.

New immune cell subset associated with progression to type 1 diabetes Posted: 11 Oct 2016 05:53 AM PDT A recently described T cell subset may have a central role in the development of type 1 diabetes, research suggests. These so called follicular T helper cells were found to be increased at the onset of type 1 diabetes, and the phenomenon was linked with the presence of autoantibodies commonly associated with the disease.

Healing effect of fecal microbiota transplantation lasts for long Posted: 11 Oct 2016 05:53 AM PDT Researchers have studied in detail the intestinal microbiota of 14 patients treated with a fecal microbiota transplant. The patients suffered from recurrent Clostridium difficile -- infection, also known as antibiotic associated diarrhea -- and they had not responded to antibiotic treatment. After the fecal microbiota transplantation therapy, the patient's microbiota was followed for a year.

Viral particles support prophylactic vaccination against breast cancer Posted: 11 Oct 2016 05:53 AM PDT Artificial structures of tumor antigens, so-called mimotopes, applied in vaccinations of cancer patients can trigger a long-term immune response. For the vaccine, however, a carrier is required that triggers an immune response itself. A team of researchers showed in laboratory tests that virus-like particles of harmless adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are particularly suitable as carriers. The scientists were able to produce mimotopes for the growth factor HER2, a tumour antigen of about 30 percent of breast tumors, without chemical after-treatment at these AAV carrier particles and use them directly as a specific vaccine.

Roadmap to get new cancer scans into clinic Posted: 11 Oct 2016 05:53 AM PDT Key recommendations for a global standard for scanning biomarkers in cancer have been introduced by experts to bridge the gap between research and the clinic, according to a new paper,

New molecular mechanism revealed for genetic mutations in aggressive cancer cells Posted: 11 Oct 2016 05:53 AM PDT Scientists have described a previously-unknown molecular mechanism that could lead to the genetic mutations seen in certain types of aggressive cancer cells, involving a cell's own transcription machinery.

Hydrogen-powered passenger ferry in San Francisco Bay is possible, says study Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:10 PM PDT Researchers set out to answer one not-so-simple question: Is it feasible to build and operate a high-speed passenger ferry solely powered by hydrogen fuel cells? The answer is yes.

Jupiter’s spooky sounds: Emissions from Jupiter’s auroras captured Posted: 10 Oct 2016 11:19 AM PDT When a NASA spacecraft made its first full orbit around Jupiter, an instrument on board recorded haunting sounds befitting the Halloween season.

First human clinical trial for nicotinamide riboside Posted: 10 Oct 2016 10:54 AM PDT In the first controlled clinical trial of nicotinamide riboside (NR), a newly discovered form of Vitamin B3, researchers have shown that the compound is safe for humans and increases levels of a cell metabolite that is critical for cellular energy production and protection against stress and DNA damage.

Metamaterial uses light to control its motion Posted: 10 Oct 2016 10:47 AM PDT Researchers have designed a device that uses light to manipulate its mechanical properties. The device, which was fabricated using a plasmomechanical metamaterial, operates through a unique mechanism that couples its optical and mechanical resonances, enabling it to oscillate indefinitely using energy absorbed from light.

Iranian coastal waters: New home to a rarely seen venomous sea snake Posted: 10 Oct 2016 10:44 AM PDT Günther's sea snake (Microcephalophis cantoris), a rarely seen venomous sea snake with distribution thought to stretch from the Malay Peninsula to Pakistan, has now been recorded from Iranian coastal waters off the western Gulf of Oman, more than 400 kilometers away from the westernmost boundary of its previously known range.

Mice sing like a jet-engine Posted: 10 Oct 2016 10:36 AM PDT Mice court one another with ultrasonic love songs that are inaudible to the human ear. New research shows they make these unique high frequency sounds using a mechanism that has only previously been observed in supersonic jet engines.

Stable molecular state of photons and artificial atom discovered Posted: 10 Oct 2016 10:33 AM PDT Researchers have discovered qualitatively new states of a superconducting artificial atom dressed with virtual photons. The discovery was made using spectroscopic measurements on an artificial atom that is very strongly coupled to the light field inside a superconducting cavity. This result provides a new platform to investigate the interaction between light and matter at a fundamental level, helps understand quantum phase transitions and provides a route to applications of non-classical light such as Schrödinger cat states. It may contribute to the development of quantum technologies in areas such as quantum communication, quantum simulation and computation, or quantum metrology.

Megadrought risks in southwest U.S. soar as atmosphere warms Posted: 10 Oct 2016 09:02 AM PDT As a consequence of a warming Earth, the risk of a megadrought -- one that lasts more than 35 years -- in the American Southwest likely will rise from a low chance over the past thousand years to a 20- to 50-percent chance in this century. However, by slashing greenhouse gas emissions, these risks are nearly cut in half, according to a new study.

Was the secret spice in primal gene soup a thickener? Posted: 10 Oct 2016 09:01 AM PDT A little goo will do to get RNA and DNA to progress toward self-replication. Could some abundant ingredient have helped the precursors of genes become life molecules? Another indicator that little drama may have been necessary in chemical evolution.

Lights, action, electrons! Posted: 10 Oct 2016 08:59 AM PDT Ever since J.J. Thompson's 1897 discovery of the electron, scientists have attempted to describe the subatomic particle's motion using a variety of different means. Electrons are far too small and fast to be seen, even with the help of a light microscope. This has made measuring an electron's movement very difficult for the past century. However, new research has made this process much easier.

Brain modulyzer provides interactive window into the brain Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:38 AM PDT A new tool allows researchers to interactively explore the hierarchical processes that happen in the brain when it is resting or performing tasks. Scientists also hope that the tool can shed some light on how neurological diseases like Alzheimer's spread throughout the brain.

'Snotty gobble' could be good weed controller Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:38 AM PDT A native parasitic plant found commonly throughout south-eastern Australia, is showing great promise as a potential biological control agent against introduced weeds that cost millions of dollars every year to control.

Altering the 'flavor' of humans could help fight malaria Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:38 AM PDT A specialized area of the mosquito brain mixes tastes with smells to create unique and preferred flavors. These findings advance the possibility of identifying a substance that makes "human flavor" repulsive to the malaria-bearing species of the mosquitoes, so instead of feasting on us, they keep the disease to themselves, potentially saving an estimated 450,000 lives a year worldwide.

Lazarus ice Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:36 AM PDT Every school child knows that ice melts in the summer and freezes in the winter. But it turns out that the process isn't that simple in the Arctic, where one type of sea ice structure, called an ice ridge, can actually get stronger in the summer due to melting.

How cells move Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:36 AM PDT It's a known fact that cells can move around the body, but how they do it has been unknown – until now.

Diabetes: New hope for better wound healing Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:36 AM PDT A sluggish insulin metabolism results in the slow and incomplete healing of injuries. That is why diabetics often have to contend with wounds that heal poorly. Researchers have now gained new insights into the underlying cellular mechanisms. Their findings could lead to the development of new treatment methods.

Personalized medicine: Smart drug clears fat from liver, blood Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:35 AM PDT Scientists have developed a 'smart' drug that safely clears the liver of fat and prevents blood vessels from clogging up. Similar to a trojan horse, the drug enters the liver with a trick: It uses the pancreatic hormone glucagon as vehicle to shuttle thyroid hormone T3 the live while keeping it away from other organs, thereby improving cholesterol and lipid metabolism while avoiding typical side effects of thyroid hormone.

Protein with multiple duties Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:35 AM PDT Researchers demonstrate how a molecular barrel structure serves various functions in the mitochondria, and explain the process in a new article.

Optimizing fuel filters via simulations Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:35 AM PDT Filters developed for cars have to meet stricter and stricter requirements, yet they also need to be ready for the market in ever shorter periods of time. Designers caught between these two demands now have support in the form of a simulation tool: it calculates all the relevant characteristics of filter design – cleaning performance, lifetime, etc. – and thus allows efficient, cost-effective development.

Optimizing sludge treatment Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:35 AM PDT Wine harvesting season is a challenge for wastewater treatment plants. When the grapes are being processed, the effluent load rises steeply – by a factor of 17 in the Palatinate town of Edenkoben. High-load anaerobic digestion provides a flexible solution that cuts power consumption by 20 percent, generates over half of the required electricity on site and greatly reduces sewage sludge volumes.

Polyamides from a waste stream of the wood industry Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:35 AM PDT A process has been created for the manufacturing of high-quality plastics from terpenes, a waste stream of the cellulose production, report researchers.

Obesity-linked conditions are projected to rise sharply in children Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:35 AM PDT Researchers' global estimates indicate that by 2025, some 268 million children aged 5 to 17 years may be overweight, including 91 million obese, assuming no policy interventions have proven effective at changing current trends. Investigators have also released data anticipating that obesity-related conditions will rise among children. In 2025, up to 12 million children will have impaired glucose tolerance, 4 million will have type 2 diabetes, 27 million will have hypertension, and 38 million will have hepatic steatosis, or buildup of fat in the liver, they say.

New approach for screening toxic chemicals mimics mammal senses Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:35 AM PDT A new approach for analyzing toxic chemicals in complex samples has been developed by researchers. The work, they say, mimics the way mammals smell and taste.

Are natural alternatives to estrogen replacement therapy safe? Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:35 AM PDT Although individuals often consume natural products because of their potential health benefits, a new review indicates that it is not clear whether the benefits of plant-derived compounds that mimic estrogen outweigh the possible health risks.

Significant cost differences found between breast cancer chemotherapy regimens Posted: 10 Oct 2016 02:28 AM PDT Costs associated with different breast cancer chemotherapy regimens can vary significantly, regardless of effectiveness, according to new research. Understanding cost differences can help guide informed discussions between patients and physicians when considering chemotherapy options.

Stem cells from jaw bone help repair damaged cartilage Posted: 10 Oct 2016 02:28 AM PDT Researchers have identified stem cells in the jaw bone that can make new cartilage and repair damaged joints. The cells reside within the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which articulates the jaw bone to the skull. When the stem cells were manipulated in animals with TMJ degeneration, the cells repaired cartilage in the joint. A single cell transplanted in a mouse spontaneously generated cartilage and bone and even began to form a bone marrow niche.

Mars-bound astronauts face chronic dementia risk from galactic cosmic ray exposure Posted: 10 Oct 2016 02:28 AM PDT Will astronauts traveling to Mars remember much of it? That's the question concerning scientists probing a phenomenon called "space brain." Scientists have found that exposure to highly energetic charged particles -- much like those found in the galactic cosmic rays that will bombard astronauts during extended spaceflights -- causes significant long-term brain damage in test rodents, resulting in cognitive impairments and dementia.

Cortisol-free rheumatoid arthritis medication also works for rare eye disease Posted: 10 Oct 2016 02:27 AM PDT A well-known rheumatoid arthritis medication containing the active agent adalimumab, a therapeutic human monoclonal antibody, is also effective for treating non-infectious uveitis, a rare eye disease, report scientists.

Intestinal diversity protects against asthma Posted: 10 Oct 2016 02:26 AM PDT Children who develop asthma or allergies have an altered immune response to intestinal bacteria in the mucous membranes even when infants, according to a new study. The results also suggests that the mother's immune defense plays a role in the development of asthma and allergies in children.

Longer disease-free survival in phase III trial of sunitinib as adjuvant treatment for kidney cancer Posted: 10 Oct 2016 02:26 AM PDT A phase III trial of sunitinib has met its primary endpoint of disease-free survival for adjuvant treatment of high-risk renal cell carcinoma after nephrectomy, researchers report.

Significant survival gains from neoadjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk soft tissue sarcoma Posted: 10 Oct 2016 02:26 AM PDT Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with an anthracycline plus ifosfamide was associated with significant survival gains in patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the trunk or extremities who are at high-risk of recurrence, in an interim analysis that led to the early discontinuation of a trial.

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