ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Biologists watch speciation in a laboratory flask
• Ants communicate by mouth-to-mouth fluid exchange
• China's 'missing girls' theory likely far overblown, study shows
• Ancient rocks hold evidence for life before oxygen
• Crunching the numbers: Researchers use math in search for diabetes cure
• Bioenergy grass can withstand freezing temperatures
• New design of neutron spectrometer being tested for manned spaceflight
• Ultrafast imaging reveals existence of 'polarons'
• Young children's spatial talk predicts their spatial abilities
• Glowing crystals can detect, cleanse contaminated drinking water
• Researchers create first 'water-wave laser'
• A molecular switch between life, sex and death
• Platypus venom could hold key to diabetes treatment
• Study offers coastal communities better way to prepare for devastating storms
• Evidence of brain injury found in young NFL players
• Myocarditis caused by infection on rise globally
• Number of symptoms may indicate how likely patients recover from post-concussion syndrome
• Amphetamine may slow rise of body temperature, mask fatigue to enhance endurance, study finds
• New tool enables viewing spectrum from specific structures within samples
• Patients should stop using e-cigarettes before plastic surgery, experts conclude
• NASA's ISS-RapidScat Earth science mission ends
• Metallic glass gears make for graceful robots
• NASA Saturn mission prepares for 'ring-grazing orbits'
• Gut microbes contribute to recurrent 'yo-yo' obesity
• Life and death following Great Barrier Reef bleaching
• Cancer risks in blacks: 'a complex, entangled web'
• Komodo dragons help researchers understand microbial health in captive animals
• This is your brain on God: Spiritual experiences activate brain reward circuits
• Acetaminophen, supplements and other medications may trigger drug-induced liver injury
• The good, the bad and the spliceosome
• New insight into why leukemia drug is successful
• Management of Feral Horses an Ongoing Challenge in the United States
• Bad timing is depressing: Disrupting the brain's internal clock causes depressive-like behavior in mice
• The Bert and Ernie principle of sharing: When and why do children give others the bigger piece of the pie?
• Use of prescription pain medicines is significantly different between people with and without Alzheimer's disease
• Live cell imaging of asymmetric cell division in fertilized plant cells
• Graphene technology enables fully flexible NFC antennas
• Enhanced CRISPR lets scientists explore all steps of health and disease in every cell type
• Mysteries of enzyme mechanism revealed
• Sometimes just watching hurts, and the signs of pain are seen in the brain
• Stem cells police themselves to reduce scarring
• With climate change, not all wildlife population shifts are predictable

Biologists watch speciation in a laboratory flask Posted: 29 Nov 2016 12:27 PM PST The evolution of a new species can occur rapidly enough for them to observe the process in a simple laboratory flask, biologists have discovered. In a month-long experiment using a virus harmless to humans, biologists documented the evolution of a virus into two incipient species--a process known as speciation that Charles Darwin proposed to explain the branching in the tree of life, where one species splits into two distinct species during evolution.

Ants communicate by mouth-to-mouth fluid exchange Posted: 29 Nov 2016 12:12 PM PST Liquids shared mouth-to-mouth by social insects contain proteins and small molecules that can influence the development and organization of their colonies, according to new research.

China's 'missing girls' theory likely far overblown, study shows Posted: 29 Nov 2016 11:56 AM PST It's common for media and academics to cite the statistic that China's one-child policy has led to anywhere from 30 million to 60 million "missing girls" that has created a gender imbalance in the world's most populous nation. But a new study that has found those numbers are likely overblown and that a large number of those girls aren't missing at all — it was more of an administrative story that had to do with how births are registered at local levels in China.

Ancient rocks hold evidence for life before oxygen Posted: 29 Nov 2016 11:48 AM PST Somewhere between Earth's creation and where we are today, scientists have demonstrated that some early life forms existed just fine without any oxygen. The 2.52 billion-year-old sulfur-oxidizing bacteria are exceptionally large, spherical-shaped, smooth-walled microscopic structures much larger than most modern bacteria, but similar to some modern single-celled organisms that live in deepwater sulfur-rich ocean settings today, where even now there are almost no traces of oxygen.

Crunching the numbers: Researchers use math in search for diabetes cure Posted: 29 Nov 2016 11:34 AM PST New research by a mathematics professor has successfully reactivated oscillations in insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells — one of the first necessary steps to resurrecting the dormant cells and restoring the production of insulin.

Bioenergy grass can withstand freezing temperatures Posted: 29 Nov 2016 10:36 AM PST Prairie cordgrass, a native perennial grass used for biomass energy, is tolerant to salt, flooding, and freezing stress. A new study demonstrates the gene expression patterns responsible for freezing tolerance in prairie cordgrass. Once the genes responsible for freezing tolerance are identified in prairie cordgrass, they may be applied to other crops in the future.

New design of neutron spectrometer being tested for manned spaceflight Posted: 29 Nov 2016 10:36 AM PST The Fast Neutron Spectrometer (FNS) is now aboard the International Space Station. Neutrons contribute to crew radiation exposure and must be measured to assess exposure levels. The FNS uses a new instrument design that can significantly improve reliability.

Ultrafast imaging reveals existence of 'polarons' Posted: 29 Nov 2016 09:45 AM PST Scientists have found definitive evidence that the movement of electrons has a direct effect on atomic arrangements, driving deformations in a material's 3-D crystalline lattice in ways that can drastically alter the flow of current. Finding evidence for these strong electron-lattice interactions, known as polarons, emphasizes the need to quantify their impact on complex phenomena such as superconductivity (the ability of some materials to carry current with no energy loss) and other promising properties.

Young children's spatial talk predicts their spatial abilities Posted: 29 Nov 2016 09:45 AM PST Preschool age kids often skip location words and lean on other relevant information to describe important spatial details, new research shows.

Glowing crystals can detect, cleanse contaminated drinking water Posted: 29 Nov 2016 09:45 AM PST Motivated by public hazards associated with contaminated sources of drinking water, a team of scientists has successfully developed and tested tiny, glowing crystals that can detect and trap heavy-metal toxins like mercury and lead.

Researchers create first 'water-wave laser' Posted: 29 Nov 2016 09:45 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated that laser emissions can be created through the interaction of light and water waves. This 'water-wave laser' could someday be used in tiny sensors or 'lab-on-a-chip' devices used to test new drug therapies.

A molecular switch between life, sex and death Posted: 29 Nov 2016 08:44 AM PST Shortly after mating, marine bristle worms die, leaving thousands of newly fertilized eggs to develop in the water. This extreme all-or-nothing mode of reproduction demonstrates a general principle: Animals need to decide if they invest their available energy stores either in growth or in reproduction. Researchers are now able to solve a 60-year-old riddle and determine the molecule that orchestrates this decision in marine bristle worms.

Platypus venom could hold key to diabetes treatment Posted: 29 Nov 2016 08:44 AM PST Australian researchers have discovered remarkable evolutionary changes to insulin regulation in two of the nation's most iconic native animal species -- the platypus and the echidna -- which could pave the way for new treatments for type 2 diabetes in humans. The findings reveal that the same hormone produced in the gut of the platypus to regulate blood glucose is also surprisingly produced in their venom.

Study offers coastal communities better way to prepare for devastating storms Posted: 29 Nov 2016 08:44 AM PST With massive coastal storms on the rise, a new study describes a method for stakeholders in vulnerable communities to be involved in preparing for, absorbing, recovering and adapting from devastation.

Evidence of brain injury found in young NFL players Posted: 29 Nov 2016 08:43 AM PST In a small study of young or recently retired NFL players, researchers report finding evidence of brain injury and repair that is visible on imaging from the players compared to a control group of men without a history of concussion.

Myocarditis caused by infection on rise globally Posted: 29 Nov 2016 08:43 AM PST Myocarditis, an assortment of heart disorders often caused by infection and inflammation, is known to be difficult to diagnose and treat. But the picture of who is affected is becoming a little clearer. Men may be as much as twice as likely as women to develop severe and possibly fatal reactions. And the risk of sudden cardiovascular death in the young is relatively high.

Number of symptoms may indicate how likely patients recover from post-concussion syndrome Posted: 29 Nov 2016 08:43 AM PST Researchers have identified symptom trends that may not only help predict how soon patients suffering from post-concussion syndrome (PCS) will recover, but also provide insight on how to treat those who experience persistent concussion symptoms.

Amphetamine may slow rise of body temperature, mask fatigue to enhance endurance, study finds Posted: 29 Nov 2016 08:42 AM PST Amphetamine may slow down the rise of temperature in the body and mask fatigue, which could allow athletes to run significantly longer but result in potentially dangerous overheating of muscles, according to a study.

New tool enables viewing spectrum from specific structures within samples Posted: 29 Nov 2016 08:42 AM PST Fluorescence is an incredibly useful tool for experimental biology and it just got easier to tap into, thanks to new research. Scientists have created a new tool that lets its users to zero in on the spectrum from specific structures within samples.

Patients should stop using e-cigarettes before plastic surgery, experts conclude Posted: 29 Nov 2016 08:41 AM PST Cigarette smokers are at increased risk of complications after plastic surgery. Could e-cigarette users face a similar risk? Evidence and recommendations related to e-cigarette use by plastic surgery patients are discussed in a new paper.

NASA's ISS-RapidScat Earth science mission ends Posted: 29 Nov 2016 07:39 AM PST NASA's International Space Station Rapid Scatterometer (ISS-RapidScat) Earth science instrument has ended operations following a successful two-year mission aboard the space station. The mission launched Sept. 21, 2014, and had recently passed its original decommissioning date.

Metallic glass gears make for graceful robots Posted: 29 Nov 2016 07:33 AM PST At NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, scientists are building a better gear. Specifically, they are developing gears made from bulk metallic glass (BMG), a specially crafted alloy with properties that make it ideal for robotics.

NASA Saturn mission prepares for 'ring-grazing orbits' Posted: 29 Nov 2016 07:29 AM PST A thrilling ride is about to begin for NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Engineers have been pumping up the spacecraft's orbit around Saturn this year to increase its tilt with respect to the planet's equator and rings. And on Nov. 30, following a gravitational nudge from Saturn's moon Titan, Cassini will enter the first phase of the mission's dramatic endgame.

Gut microbes contribute to recurrent 'yo-yo' obesity Posted: 29 Nov 2016 06:11 AM PST Researchers have shown in mice that intestinal microbes -- collectively termed the gut microbiome -- play an unexpectedly important role in exacerbated post-dieting weight gain, and that this common phenomenon may in the future be prevented or treated by altering the composition or function of the microbiome.

Life and death following Great Barrier Reef bleaching Posted: 29 Nov 2016 06:04 AM PST Scientists have confirmed the largest die-off of corals ever recorded on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The worst affected area, a 700 km swath of reefs in the northern region of the Great Barrier Reef has lost an average of 67% of its shallow-water corals in the past 8-9 months. Further south, over the vast central and southern regions of the Great Barrier Reef, the scientists were relieved to find a much lower death toll.

Cancer risks in blacks: 'a complex, entangled web' Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:50 AM PST A breakthrough study shows major differences between the types of cancer and mortality rates of U.S.-born blacks versus those who emigrate from the Caribbean.

Komodo dragons help researchers understand microbial health in captive animals Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:50 AM PST A new study is the first to identify similarities in the way in which Komodo dragons and humans and their pets share microbes within closed environments.

This is your brain on God: Spiritual experiences activate brain reward circuits Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:50 AM PST Religious and spiritual experiences activate the brain reward circuits in much the same way as love, sex, gambling, drugs and music, report researchers.

Acetaminophen, supplements and other medications may trigger drug-induced liver injury Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:50 AM PST More than 1,000 medications, with acetaminophen being the most common, have been associated with drug-induced liver injury (DILI). A new article discusses the clinical impact of DILI and reviews the medications that most frequently cause it.

The good, the bad and the spliceosome Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:48 AM PST The Fas protein can either inhibit or promote the controlled cell death (apoptosis), depending on the isoform in which it occurs. Together with international colleagues, researchers have elucidated how this decision is guided. These results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of tumor diseases.

New insight into why leukemia drug is successful Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:43 AM PST At the moment, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is incurable. But in recent years, new drugs called B-cell receptor (BCR) inhibitors, have revolutionized treatment. Research now sheds light on why and how a new class of drug is effective at fighting off leukemia.

Management of Feral Horses an Ongoing Challenge in the United States Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:43 AM PST Solutions to reduce herd sizes of feral horses in the United States face issues of ethics and perception, according to a new article.

Bad timing is depressing: Disrupting the brain's internal clock causes depressive-like behavior in mice Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:43 AM PST Disruptions of daily rhythms of the body's master internal clock cause depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in mice, reports a new study. The findings provide insight into the role of the brain's internal time keeping system in the development of mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, which have been associated with disturbed daily (circadian) rhythms.

The Bert and Ernie principle of sharing: When and why do children give others the bigger piece of the pie? Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:43 AM PST Fairness is a central concept in the adult world. But how do children learn what is fair and what is not? When do children learn to distribute resources in an equitable manner, and what do they do when it is impossible to divide the pie equally?

Use of prescription pain medicines is significantly different between people with and without Alzheimer's disease Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:42 AM PST Approximately one third of people with Alzheimer's disease use prescription medicines for pain after their diagnosis, reports a recent study. The use of analgesics was as common among persons with Alzheimer's disease as it was among those of the same age without the disease, but there were significant differences in the types of medicines used.

Live cell imaging of asymmetric cell division in fertilized plant cells Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:42 AM PST An international group of plant biologists has succeeded for the first time in visualizing how egg cells in plants divides unequally (asymmetric cell division) after being fertilized. The direction of this asymmetric cell division determines the body axis of flowering plants, i.e. the top part producing leaves and flowers, and the bottom part developing into roots. This mechanistic discovery on asymmetric cell division in plants provides insight into finding out how flowering plants have evolved to form their body shape.

Graphene technology enables fully flexible NFC antennas Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:42 AM PST Graphene is currently one of the most extensively studied materials in the world, both on a scientific and industrial level. The world's first two-dimensional material, this single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice has a series of unique and outstanding properties. As well as being the thinnest, strongest and lightest known material, graphene is flexible, impermeable and extremely electrically and thermally conductive. All properties well suited for next generation NFC antennas.

Enhanced CRISPR lets scientists explore all steps of health and disease in every cell type Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:42 AM PST Researchers have created sOPTiKO, a more efficient and controllable CRISPR genome editing platform. In a new article, they describe how the freely available single-step system works in every cell in the body and at every stage of development. This new approach will aid researchers in developmental biology, tissue regeneration and cancer.

Mysteries of enzyme mechanism revealed Posted: 29 Nov 2016 05:42 AM PST A breakthrough advance has been made by trapping an intermediate in the mechanism of enzymes called heme peroxidases and determining its structure using a beam of neutrons from the heart of a nuclear reactor.

Sometimes just watching hurts, and the signs of pain are seen in the brain Posted: 28 Nov 2016 02:15 PM PST Some people claim to experience pain just watching something painful to happen. This is true especially of people suffering from complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a disabling chronic pain disorder in a limb. In CPRS patients, both own movements and just observing other persons' movements may aggravate the pain.

Stem cells police themselves to reduce scarring Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:28 PM PST Stem cells produce a decoy protein to attenuate growth signals. Artificially regulating this pathway might help keep muscles supple in muscular dystrophy or during normal aging, researchers hope.

With climate change, not all wildlife population shifts are predictable Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:27 PM PST Wildlife ecologists who study the effects of climate change assume, with support from several studies, that warming temperatures caused by climate change are forcing animals to move either northward or upslope on mountainsides to stay within their natural climate conditions. But a new study of lowland and higher-mountain bird species now shows an unexpected and "unprecedented" inconsistency in such shifts.

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