Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 12

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Team makes stride in explaining 30-year-old 'hidden order' physics mystery 
- Application of laser microprobe technology to Apollo samples refines lunar impact history 
- Earliest-known arboreal and subterranean ancestral mammals discovered 
- Scientists get first glimpse of a chemical bond being born 
- Inkjet-printing system could enable mass-production of large-screen and flexible OLED displays 
- Scientists have taken a big step toward the rational design of catalysts 
- Exotic states materialize with supercomputers 
- Eight million tons: Researchers calculate the magnitude of plastic waste going into the ocean 
- Exploded star blooms like a cosmic flower 
- Squid recode their genetic make-up on-the-fly to adjust to their surroundings 
- Lab-in-a-box takes aim at doctors' computer activity 
- Spontaneous activity shapes neuron development 
- Microbes prevent malnutrition in fruit flies—and maybe humans, too 
- FANTOM5 project discovers general rules governing how cells change 
- New fluorescent protein permanently marks neurons that fire 

Nanotechnology news

Promising nanomaterials origin revealed Florida State University scientists are offering a new understanding of how an intriguing nanomaterial—metallofullerene—is formed in a recently published research study.

Researchers obtain hybrid perovskite nanoparticles with 80% luminescence yield Researchers at the Institute for Molecular Science of the University of Valencia (ICMol), led by Professor Julia Pérez-Prieto, have developed a method for preparing methylammonium-lead bromide (CH3NH3PbBr3) hybrid nanoparticles with extraordinary luminescence. Indeed, this work has successfully increased the luminescence efficiency of nanoparticles up to 80% and has also proven their high stability under ultraviolet visible light. The Journal of Materials Chemistry A has just gathered online the conclusions from this work.

Physics news

	Scientists get first glimpse of a chemical bond being born Scientists have used an X-ray laser at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory to get the first glimpse of the transition state where two atoms begin to form a weak bond on the way to becoming a molecule.
	Team makes stride in explaining 30-year-old 'hidden order' physics mystery A new explanation for a type of order, or symmetry, in an exotic material made with uranium may lead to enhanced computer displays and data storage systems, and more powerful superconducting magnets for medical imaging and levitating high-speed trains, according to a Rutgers-led team of research physicists.
	Exotic states materialize with supercomputers Scientists used supercomputers to find a new class of materials that possess an exotic state of matter known as the quantum spin Hall effect. The researchers published their results in the journal Science in December 2014, where they propose a new type of transistor made from these materials.
	Crystal pattern mapping can recover obliterated serial numbers in metals Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have demonstrated a technique for mapping deformation in metals that can recover destroyed serial numbers on metal objects such as firearms, a common challenge in forensics.
Strings attached to future high temperature superconductivity The behaviour of strongly correlated electron systems, such as high temperature superconductors, defies explanation in the language of ordinary quantum theory. A seemingly unrelated area of physics, string theory, might give physicists a better understanding of the weird behaviour of this kind of collective electron system. A bird's eye view was recently published in Nature by five world experts in the field, among which Jan Zaanen from Leiden University/Delta Institute for Theoretical Physics.
	Schrodinger's cat gets a reality check It's a century-old debate: what is the meaning of the wave function, the central object of quantum mechanics? Is Schrödinger's cat really dead and alive?
	Switching superconductivity by light A research team led by Prof. Hiroshi M. Yamamoto of the Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences has developed a novel superconducting transistor which can be switched reversibly between ON and OFF by light-irradiation. This achievement is a milestone for future high-speed switching devices or highly-sensitive optical sensors.
Are analogue quantum computers still wishful thinking? Many challenges lie ahead before quantum annealing, the analogue version of quantum computation, contributes to solve combinatorial optimization problems.

Earth news

	Eight million tons: Researchers calculate the magnitude of plastic waste going into the ocean A plastic grocery bag cartwheels down the beach until a gust of wind spins it into the ocean. In 192 coastal countries, this scenario plays out over and over again as discarded beverage bottles, food wrappers, toys and other bits of plastic make their way from estuaries, seashores and uncontrolled landfills to settle in the world's seas.
	Slowly evaporating particles refute assumption used in air quality and climate models Ubiquitous carbon-rich aerosol particles created by emissions from cars, trees, and other sources alter our climate and affect air quality. Until recently, the properties of these aerosols were hard to experimentally characterize, forcing computational models to rely on unsupported assumptions. For several years, scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have chipped away at these notions. They have provided hard data about viscosity, shape, morphology, volatility, and other fundamental particle properties. Recently, the team tackled how the particles, called secondary organic aerosols (SOAs), evaporate when the relative humidity is high. They found that these aerosols actually evaporate very slowly, sticking around for days.
	New research suggests severe weather will continue, be more variable More tornadoes will be commonplace by the year 2080 as a result of a changing climate, according to a new study from University of Georgia geography researchers.
	Researchers propose way to remove iron from contaminated water High concentrations of dissolved iron from abandoned coal mines in Pennsylvania have been contaminating some of the commonwealth's streams and rivers for many years, potentially affecting aquatic habitats and drinking water for millions of residents.
	Warming pushes Western US toward driest period in 1,000 years During the second half of the 21st century, the U.S. Southwest and Great Plains will face persistent drought worse than anything seen in times ancient or modern, with the drying conditions "driven primarily" by human-induced global warming, a new study predicts.
	Scientists try to unravel warming's impact on jet stream A winter of strange weather and turbulent transatlantic flights has scientists asking: Has a predicted climate imbalance of the jet stream begun?
	Earthquake early warning begins testing in Pacific Northwest The next time a significant earthquake hits in Washington or Oregon, a handful of computers in offices around the region will emit a blaring siren, then a robotic voice will pronounce: "Earthquake. Earthquake. Shaking to begin in… 15 seconds."
	Estimating flood behaviour on a global scale Characterising flood behaviour for any river in the world is now becoming a possibility, according to new research from the University of Bristol published this month in Water Resources Research.
	New England's snowstorm 'bomb' from inside a Doppler-on-Wheels Jan. 26, 2015. The day computer models forecast one of the most intense snowstorms in history. Meteorologists call it a "bomb."
	Scientists tackling Gulf of Mexico hypoxia Bouncing along the edge of a field, Larry Berry points across the pasture toward a tree line marking the path of a creek bed. A small plastic shed sits atop a wooden platform on stilts.
	Patterns in sky brightness depend very strongly on location At many locations around the world, the night sky shines hundreds of times brighter than it did before the introduction of artificial light. Berlin based researchers from the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) and the Freie Universität Berlin led a groundbreaking study into variations in the radiance of the night sky. Together with an international team of researchers from Europe, North America, and Asia, they found remarkably large variations in artificial night sky brightness at the different observation sites. Their study, published Thursday in Nature Publishing Group's open access journal Scientific Reports, is the most comprehensive examination of skyglow ever undertaken.
	New techniques reveal how microbes shape the health and biodiversity of oceans Microbes in the ocean take up massive amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to the global carbon cycle and affecting climate change. These microbes are abundant, diverse and critical to the health of ecosystems, but they are very hard to study. Innovations in sequencing technologies and techniques are allowing scientists to break open the so-called 'black box' of ocean microbes and revolutionizing science in the ocean.
Global rainfall satellites require massive overhaul Circling hundreds of miles above Earth, weather satellites are working round-the-clock to provide rainfall data that are key to a complex system of global flood prediction.
	Seven sustainability lessons we can all learn from backpackers With a reputation in Australia for public drunkenness and antisocial behaviour, backpackers might not seem likely role models for "greener" ways of living. Most backpackers are from upper- or middle-class backgrounds where high consumption is the norm. Surely those patterns of high resource use will continue on holiday?
	New report brings pre-2020 actions into sharp focus As UN climate negotiators in Geneva today focus on emissions reductions in the pre-2020 period, a new WWF report outlines the immediate mitigation measures that can be taken in 10 countries.
	UN negotiators plot route to climate pact Negotiators haggled on the penultimate day of UN climate talks in Geneva Thursday over how best to streamline the bloated draft of a long-awaited pact the world's nations must sign in December.
	Who pays? Who cuts emissions? Five issues for UN climate deal World governments are hoping that this year will mark a breakthrough in the slow-paced U.N. climate talks.
Chemical cloud over Spanish town after factory accident A chemical accident at a factory in Spain on Thursday injured three people and cloaked large swathes of the region in an orange chemical cloud, forcing over 60,000 people to stay indoors before it disappeared.

Astronomy & Space news

	Application of laser microprobe technology to Apollo samples refines lunar impact history It's been more than 40 years since astronauts returned the last Apollo samples from the moon, and since then those samples have undergone some of the most extensive and comprehensive analysis of any geological collection. A team led by ASU researchers has now refined the timeline of meteorite impacts on the moon through a pioneering application of laser microprobe technology to Apollo 17 samples.
	NASA unveils possible submarine design for exploring liquid methane seas on Titan (w/ Video) (Phys.org)—NASA has unveiled at this year's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Symposium (and posted a video on Youtube) a possible design for a submersible robot for use in exploring the liquid methane/ethane seas on Saturn's moon Titan. The video and sub design were created by NASA Glenn's COMPASS Team along with some researchers from Applied Research Lab. The call for the design came from workers with the NASA NIAC Program, which of course is tasked with coming up with ideas for new ways to explore space and the celestial bodies in it.
	The search for volcanic eruptions on Mars reaches the next level A new study of emissions from Martian volcanoes suggests there is no activity going on right now, but researchers aren't ruling out recent eruptions.
	Mismatched twin stars spotted in the delivery room The majority of stars in our galaxy come in pairs. In particular, the most massive stars usually have a companion. These fraternal twins tend to be somewhat equal partners when it comes to mass - but not always. In a quest to find mismatched star pairs known as extreme mass-ratio binaries, astronomers have discovered a new class of binary stars. One star is fully formed while the other is still in its infancy.
	Exploded star blooms like a cosmic flower Because the debris fields of exploded stars, known as supernova remnants, are very hot, energetic, and glow brightly in X-ray light, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has proven to be a valuable tool in studying them. The supernova remnant called G299.2-2.9 (or G299 for short) is located within our Milky Way galaxy, but Chandra's new image of it is reminiscent of a beautiful flower here on Earth.
	Talking Japanese space robot back on Earth A pint-sized Japanese robot that became the first android to converse with an astronaut in space has returned to Earth after 18 months in orbit, project organisers said Thursday.
	Mars rover nearing marathon achievement NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity is nearing a location on Mars at which its driving distance will surpass the length of a marathon race.
	Image: Giant filament seen on the sun A dark, snaking line across the lower half of the sun in this Feb. 10, 2015 image from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a filament of solar material hovering above the sun's surface. SDO shows colder material as dark and hotter material as light, so the line is, in fact, an enormous swatch of colder material hovering in the sun's atmosphere, the corona.
	Scientists ship instrument that will expand view of global lightning An expanded view of lightning around the globe is coming closer for scientists at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), thanks to a repurposed measuring instrument.
	The number of asteroids we could visit and explore has just doubled There's a famous line from Shakespeare's Hamlet that says "There are more things in heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy," and the same now holds true for brave new worlds for humans to explore.
	250 years of planetary detection in 60 seconds Early astronomers realized some of the "stars" in the sky were planets in our Solar System, and really, only then did we realize Earth is a planet too. Now, we're finding planets around other stars, and thanks to the Kepler Space Telescope, we're able to find planets that are even smaller than Earth.
European to capsule leaving space station, skipping test A European cargo ship is set to depart the International Space Station this weekend. But it will re-enter the atmosphere and burn up the next day, skipping a special descent test because of a problem.
	The search for alternative chemistries of life heats up Ideas about directing evolution of life forms on Earth and finding life on other planets are rapidly morphing from science-fiction fantasy into mainstream science, says David Lynn, a chemist at Emory University."
Video: Vega VV04 liftoff Replay of the liftoff of Vega VV04 with ESA's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, IXV, launched from Kourou, French Guiana on 11 February 2015.

Technology news

	Inkjet-printing system could enable mass-production of large-screen and flexible OLED displays Flexible smartphones and color-saturated television displays were some highlights at this year's Consumer Electronics Showcase, held in January in Las Vegas.
	Calorie-burning vest makes use of cold exposure "Give fat the cold shoulder." That is the catchy advice in a video of a scientist who believes he is on to something to support weight loss, and that is The Cold Shoulder calorie-burning vest. Dr. Wayne B. Hayes said it can help a person burn an extra 500 calories per day. Swimmers burn a lot of calories in their workouts but swimming in cold water also contributes to the amount of daily calories burned. Olympic swimmers spend their time in water that is about 20 degrees Fahrenheit below their body temperature. This temperature difference extracts calories from their bodies. He said the difference makes them burn way more calories than exercise alone. The vest's basic concept is clothing with ice-pack inserts which serve to help burn calories. Actually, the effects of mild cold exposure on humans have been studied by scientists, with documents that discuss how mild cold exposure induces calorie burn. In April, a research paper fro! m The Netherlands, by Wouter van Marken Lichtenbelt, Boris Kingma, Anouk van der Lans and Lisje Schellen was published in Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism. The title was "Cold exposure – an approach to increasing energy expenditure in humans."
	Algorithm tests your Twitter skills and predicts virality of tweets As countless political orators have demonstrated, it's not just what you say, it's how you say it. Using automated text analysis, Cornell University researchers have identified an array of features that can make a tweet more likely to get attention, and have created a website that will predict which version of a tweet will be more popular: https://chenhaot.com/retweetedmore
	Autonomous vehicles may lead to an increase in miles driven Autonomous vehicles may reduce the number of vehicles a family needs, but may lead to an increase in total miles driven, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
	Lab-in-a-box takes aim at doctors' computer activity They call it "the Lab-in-a-Box." According to Nadir Weibel, a research scientist in the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department at the University of California, San Diego, inside the box are assorted sensors and software designed to monitor a doctor's office, particularly during consultations with patients. The goal is to analyze the physician's behavior and better understand the dynamics of the interactions of the doctor with the electronic medical records and the patients in front of them. The eventual goal is to provide useful input on how to run the medical practice more efficiently.
	QUANT F car will be shown next month in Geneva nanoFlowcell AG will show its QUANT F car at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. This is an electric auto in the style of an "e-sports saloon," a large sports saloon for four, with a range of 800 km (497 miles). The car is being promoted for its exceptional performance and for its pointing the way to the future shape of sustainable electric mobility. With its "zero-harmful emissions," the car will have its world premiere at the Geneva show in March.
Review: Using the sun to charge your phone is getting easier If you follow my reviews, you know I'm a geek for backup batteries, flashlights and anything with a solar panel, so when I received a box from Goal Zero with a few of its power products to review, I was in heaven.
Google buys Altamont wind energy to power Googleplex Google has spent $1.5 billion around the world on clean energy projects cutting the pollution from millions of users clicking on search links, watching YouTube videos and sending emails, but now it's found a powerful electricity source close to home.
Jasper CEO Jahangir Mohammed on the Internet of Things Jasper, a maker of cloud-based systems, had just finished moving into its new Santa Clara headquarters when its CEO and founder Jahangir Mohammed sat down for a conversation about the rapidly evolving "Internet of Things."
	Are you a hack waiting to happen? Your boss wants to know Are you a hack waiting to happen? Your boss wants to find out.
	Parenting tech keeps tabs on children American parents may not have the resources of the National Security Agency, but it's not that hard for them to snoop on their smartphone-addicted kids.
	Twitter buys agency that grooms social media stars Twitter on Wednesday announced it is buying Niche, a startup that acts as a talent agency of sorts matching online video celebrities from Vine and elsewhere with advertisers.
	The improvement of traffic management by understanding choice behaviour Research by the University of Twente has shown that many road users do not choose the shortest or fastest route. In some situations, this applies to no less than 75% of road users. There are several reasons for this, including force of habit, no need because the old choice is satisfactory, a too small perceptible gain in travel time, or not constantly wanting or able to keep track of all changes. To improve the control of traffic, the existing traffic management systems can be used more effectively, concludes UT doctoral degree candidate Jaap Vreeswijk. Acceptance by road users can be increased considerably if we can improve our understanding of this human choice behaviour.
GM to build 200-mile electric car at Michigan plant An electric car with a 200-mile range and a price tag of $37,500 will be built at a General Motors factory north of Detroit, the company announced Thursday.
	Now someone can manage your Facebook account after you die Facebook is making it easier to plan for your online afterlife.
	FireEye is "first in the door" on big cyberattacks As hackers invade the computer systems of major companies with greater frequency and their corporate victims scramble to contain the damage and prevent future intrusions, these are boom times for cybersecurity sleuths.
	Alleged cyber criminal extradited from Latvia to US Latvia on Thursday extradited a programmer to the United States to stand trial for his alleged role in a global cyber theft ring that hacked into a million computers.
Three of tech's top CEOs to skip Obama cybersecurity summit The top executives of Google Inc., Yahoo! Inc. and Facebook Inc. won't attend President Barack Obama's cybersecurity summit on Friday, at a time when relations between the White House and Silicon Valley have frayed over privacy issues.
Under Armour may be evolving into a fitness technology company With its latest expansion, sports apparel-maker Under Armour could find itself in the company of Facebook, Pinterest and other well-known online names.
With new mobile apps, states engage citizens via smartphone Are you tonight's designated driver looking for a sober place to hang out while your buddies drink? The state of California has a mobile application you can download that pinpoints welcoming places and money-saving deals while you wait to take everyone home.
Nevada leads US in per-capita growth in solar jobs The number of solar industry jobs in Nevada more than doubled last year, the fastest per capita growth in the nation, a nonprofit research and education group said in a new report Thursday.
	Chinese phone sensation dips toes in US with accessories Xiaomi, one of China's hottest companies, is bringing its blend of cheap yet fashionable technology and crowd-pleasing antics to the U.S.
	Zynga closing China studio as earnings disappoint Zynga on Thursday announced it is closing its China studio as the social games pioneer reported earnings that disappointed investors.
First in-depth look at solar project completion timelines The Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has gathered and analyzed data for more than 30,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) installations across the United States to better understand how interconnection regulations align with actual project completion timelines. The findings indicate that interconnection process delays are common, and can range from several days to months. Streamlining the application review and final authorization processes can ultimately benefit utilities and solar consumers by reducing the time and cost associated with going solar.
Private equity firm Vista buying Automated Insights Private equity firm Vista Equity Partners is buying Automated Insights, a technology company funded by The Associated Press and other investors.
Simulation technology shows Navy how to take a HIT The Navy soon will begin using an Office of Naval Research (ONR) technology to predict injuries and improve medical responses in any kind of attack on ships, officials announced today.
Bush's group posts emails containing Social Security numbers By posting online all of his personal email from his eight years as Florida's governor, Jeb Bush sought to show himself as a tech-savvy executive, in touch with constituents and an active administrator.

Chemistry news

	Scientists have taken a big step toward the rational design of catalysts Most of our food, medicine, fuel, plastics and synthetic fibers wouldn't exist without catalysts, materials that open favorable pathways for chemical reactions to run forth. And yet chemists don't fully understand how most catalysts work, and developing new catalysts often still depends on laborious trial-and-error.
	Unlikely pairing—an antidepressant plus dye—yields tumor-targeting tool A team of scientists has created a "conjugate" molecule—one stitched together from two separate molecules—that seeks out and blocks prostate cancer growth in lab animals.
	Making teeth tough: Beavers show way to improve our enamel Beavers don't brush their teeth, and they don't drink fluoridated water, but a new Northwestern University study reports beavers do have protection against tooth decay built into the chemical structure of their teeth: iron.
	Collaboration project defeats explosives threats through enhanced detection technologies Having long kept details of its explosives capabilities under wraps, a team of Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists is now rolling out a collaborative project to defeat explosives threats through enhanced detection technologies.
	Mixing plant waste and plastic to obtain building materials The emerging company PLASTINOVA has intertwined the science of chemical engineering and technology to recycle all kinds of useless plastics and tequila agave bagasse similar to wood, with greater resistance. The material is used as formwork in the construction industry or in the manufacture of benches, tables and chairs.
	Video: Why do roses smell so sweet? Valentine's Day is Saturday, and people will be spending billions on their sweethearts. Much of that cash will be dropped on sweet-smelling roses. But did you know that one minor chemical change would make that rose not smell as sweet?

Biology news

	A new species of hummingbird? The Bahama Woodstar is a hummingbird found in the Bahamas, and comprises two subspecies. One of these, Calliphlox evelynae evelynae, is found throughout the islands of the Bahamas, and especially in the northern islands. The other, Calliphlox evelynae lyrura ("lyrura" for lyre-tailed, referring to the forked tail of males that resembles a classical lyre harp), is found only among the southern Inaguan islands of the Bahama Archipelago.
	Microbes prevent malnutrition in fruit flies—and maybe humans, too Microbes, small and ancient life forms, play a key role in maintaining life on Earth. As has often been pointed out, without microbes, we'd die—without us, most microbes would get along just fine.
	How the Eastern tiger swallowtail got 'scary' As butterflies go, the Eastern tiger swallowtail is pretty scary. Their caterpillars look more like stubby snakes, complete with a fake green head, faux black and yellow eyes, and an orange, forked, fleshy "tongue." That tongue-like structure (officially called an osmeterium) can evert, expand, and move, releasing a stinky substance in the process.
	Dogs know that smile on your face Dogs can tell the difference between happy and angry human faces, according to a new study in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on February 12. The discovery represents the first solid evidence that an animal other than humans can discriminate between emotional expressions in another species, the researchers say.
	Squid recode their genetic make-up on-the-fly to adjust to their surroundings The principle of adaptation—the gradual modification of a species' structures and features—is one of the pillars of evolution. While there exists ample evidence to support the slow, ongoing process that alters the genetic makeup of a species, scientists could only suspect that there were also organisms capable of transforming themselves ad hoc to adjust to changing conditions.
FANTOM5 project discovers general rules governing how cells change Using a comprehensive analysis of RNA expression in different cell types, scientists from the RIKEN-led FANTOM5 consortium have made major strides toward resolving an outstanding mystery in biology. In the work, published in Science, they showed that when cells undergo phenotype changes such as differentiation into specialized cell types, the initial activation takes place at DNA regions called enhancers, a type of regulatory "switch" which are typically located far from the genes that they activate.
	Remoras don't suck How does the hitchhiking, flat-headed remora fish attach to surfaces so securely yet release so easily? Suction was thought to be the easy answer, but Brooke Flammang, a biologist at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), has proved this long-held conclusion to be only partly true.
	In Kenya, the end is nigh for northern white rhinos This is what extinction looks like. No meteor from outer space, no unstoppable pandemic, no heroic, ultimately futile last stand. Instead poor sperm, weak knees and ovarian cysts mark the end of a lifeline cut short by human greed, ignorance and indifference.
	China tiger farms put big cats in the jaws of extinction A fearsome tiger snarled as a doomed chicken flapped helplessly in its mouth—but campaigners say such "entertainment" in China is putting big cats further in the jaws of extinction.
	Critical green turtle habitats identified in Mediterranean A new study led by the University of Exeter has identified two major foraging grounds of the Mediterranean green turtle and recommends the creation of a new Marine Protected Area (MPA) to preserve the vulnerable species.
Shark attack deaths down in 2014 Three people died worldwide from shark attacks last year, far below the average of 6.3 deaths per year over the past decade, according to the International Shark Attack File report released by the University of Florida today.
	The European bison did not dwell in the forest Together with colleagues from Germany and Poland, paleontologist Prof. Dr. Hervé Bocherens of the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment (HEP) and the Department of Geosciences at the University of Tübingen examined the oldest known bones of bison from Europe. Their research revealed that European Bison were "mixed eaters" who preferred open landscapes to a life in the forest. These findings have a direct impact on the current conservation concept for these animals, which are threatened with extinction.The associated study was financed by the Polish National Science Centre (grant no N N304 301940) and published today in the renowned scientific journal PLOS ONE.
	Slave ants and their masters are locked in a deadly relationship Ants have a reputation of being industrious hard-working animals, sacrificing their own benefit for the good of the colony. They live to serve their queen and take care of all essential tasks including brood care, gathering food and maintaining the nest.
	The journey to discovering species Did you know the world's smallest goannas, the Dampier Peninsula goannas (Varanus sparnus), are about 5,000 times lighter than their larger relatives, the Komodo dragons? The recent announcement of the discovery of the goanna species near Broome garnered quite a buzz of excitement in Australia and internationally.
	Apes make irrational economic decisions – that includes you Just the other day I found myself in the waiting room of an automotive dealership. While my car was being serviced, I flipped through a product brochure. One ad for an oil change boasted that it would clean out at least 90% of used oil. Another for new brakes guaranteed maximum performance for twelve months. No one was advertising oil changes that leave behind 10% sludge, or brakes that begin to fail after only a year.
	Urban pollinators get the job done Having trouble getting those fruits and vegetables in your backyard to grow? Don't blame the bees.
Study recommends closing the high seas to fishing Simon Fraser University biologist Isabelle Côté has co-authored a new study that finds little would be lost by eliminating high seas fishing.
	A new model organism for aging research: The short-lived African killifish Studying aging and its associated diseases has been challenging because existing vertebrate models (e.g., mice) are relatively long lived, while short-lived invertebrate species (e.g., yeast and worms) lack key features present in humans. Stanford University scientists have found a new middle ground with the development of a genome-editing toolkit to study aging in the naturally short-lived African turquoise killifish. The investigators hope these fish will be a valuable new model for understanding, preventing, and treating the diseases of old age. They present their work in the February 12 issue of Cell.
	iSpot: Research finds crowdsourcing effective for gathering biodiversity data Launched in 2009, iSpot is a citizen science platform aimed at helping anyone, anywhere identify anything in nature. To date, around 42,000 people have registered as iSpot users and over 390,000 observations have been made, leading to the identification of more than 24,000 species.
	Ants are more than just convenience food to young spiders Harvester ants are more than just a convenient snack for the southern European spider, Euryopis episinoides. The young spiderlings innately have a nose for these ants, report Stano Pekár and Manuel Cárdenas of the Masaryk University in the Czech Republic in an article in The Science of Nature - Naturwissenschaften.
	Data-storage for eternity Scrolls thousands of years old provide us with a glimpse into long-forgotten cultures and the knowledge of our ancestors. In this digital era, in contrast, a large part of our knowledge is located on servers and hard drives. It will be a challenge for this data to survive 50 years, let alone thousands of years. Researchers are therefore searching for new ways to store large volumes of data over the long term. Particular attention is being paid to a storage medium found in nature: the genetic material DNA.
	Mechanical stress is a key driver of cell-cell fusion, study finds Just as human relationships are a two-way street, fusion between cells requires two active partners: one to send protrusions into its neighbor, and one to hold its ground and help complete the process. Researchers have now found that one way the receiving cell plays its role is by having a key structural protein come running in response to pressure on the cell membrane, rather than waiting for chemical signals to tell it that it's needed. The study, which helps open the curtain on a process relevant to muscle formation and regeneration, fertilization, and immune response, appears in the March 9 issue of the journal Developmental Cell.
	Dragonfly gut infections suggest environmental role in obesity Obesity and diabetes are not just problems of modern-day humans and their domesticated pets. Insects also are affected by these health conditions, and intestinal infections by protozoans are the cause, according to researchers at Penn State. The research suggests that intestinal infections may contribute to metabolic diseases, including diabetes and obesity, in humans as well.
NOAA announces new National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy Today at the annual Progressive Insurance Miami Boat Show, NOAA Fisheries Administrator Eileen Sobeck announced a new national policy to better serve America's 11 million recreational saltwater anglers and the companies and communities that rely on them. The National Marine Manufacturing Association (NMMA), which runs the boat show, hosted today's briefing for media and constituents.
	Emaciated sea lion rescued on San Francisco boulevard Official say that an emaciated sea lion yearling that was probably looking for food was rescued along a major San Francisco boulevard, more than 1,000 feet from the ocean.
Agency: Sage grouse spending to top $750 million by 2018 Spending on a government-sponsored initiative to help struggling sage grouse populations in the West is projected to exceed $750 million by 2018.

Medicine & Health news

	Scientists overturn dogma on the bubonic plague For decades, scientists have thought the bacteria that cause the bubonic plague hijack host cells at the site of a fleabite and are then taken to the lymph nodes, where the bacteria multiply and trigger severe disease. But UNC School of Medicine researchers discovered that this accepted theory is off base. The bacteria do not use host cells; they traffic to lymph nodes on their own and not in great numbers.
	Common biomarkers of sleep debt found in humans, rats, study finds Stating that sleep is an essential biological process seems as obvious as saying that the sun rises every morning. Yet, researchers' understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of sleep loss is still in its earliest stages. The risk for a host of metabolic disorders, including weight gain, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, associated with reduced sleep is driving basic investigations on the topic.
	Bilingual infants lip-read more than monolingual infants New research from Northeastern developmental psychologist David J. Lewkowicz shows that infants learning more than one language do more lip-reading than infants learning a single language.
	Reality is distorted in brain's maps The brain's GPS would be worthless if it simply contained maps of our surroundings that were not aligned to the real world. But we now know how this is done.
	Spontaneous activity shapes neuron development A process previously thought to be mere background noise in the brain has been found to shape the growth of neurons as the brain develops, according to research from the MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology (MRC CDN), Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), published in Cell Reports.
	Key to blocking influenza virus may lie in a cell's own machinery Viruses are masters of outsourcing, entrusting their fundamental function - reproduction - to the host cells they infect. But it turns out this highly economical approach also creates vulnerability.
	New fluorescent protein permanently marks neurons that fire A new tool developed at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus lets scientists shine a light on an animal's brain to permanently mark neurons that are active at a particular time. The tool—a fluorescent protein called CaMPARI—converts from green to red when calcium floods a nerve cell after the cell fires. The permanent mark frees scientists from the need to focus a microscope on the right cells at the right time to observe neuronal activity.
	Curious monkeys share our thirst for knowledge Monkeys are notoriously curious, and new research has quantified just how eager they are to gain new information, even if there are not immediate benefits. The findings offer insights into how a certain part of the brain shared by monkeys and humans plays a role in decision making, and perhaps even in some disorders and addictions in humans.
	Scientists tackle issue of how to get a first date in a digital world Choosing a screen name with a letter starting in the top half of the alphabet is as important as an attractive photo and a fluent headline in the online dating game, reveals an analysis of the best ways of finding love in the digital world, and published online in the journal Evidence Based Medicine.
Researchers find new mechanism that controls immune responses UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified a common signaling mechanism to produce interferon - one of the main proteins used to signal the immune system when the body needs to defend itself against a virus, tumor, or other diseases.
	Post-op infection rate low for minimally invasive spine Sx (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing posterior transtubular microscopic assisted spinal surgery, the postoperative infection rate is very low, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of Spine.
Hand washing focus in hospitals has led to rise in worker dermatitis A new study from The University of Manchester has revealed that the incidence of dermatitis has increased 4.5 times in health care workers following increased hand hygiene as a drive to reduce infections such as MRSA has kicked in.
	Plant-based diet may reduce obese children's risk of heart disease Obese children who begin a low-fat, plant-based vegan diet may lower their risk of heart disease through improvements in their weight, blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol levels, insulin sensitivity, and high-sensitivity C-reactive, according to Cleveland Clinic research published online today by The Journal of Pediatrics.
	BMJ investigation reveals network of links between public health scientists and sugar industry Public health scientists and a government committee working on nutritional advice receive funding from the very companies whose products are widely held to be responsible for the obesity crisis, an investigation by The BMJ reveals today.
Government failure to ensure young driver safety costing lives and money A year after asking the UK government to take urgent action to reduce deaths and injuries associated with young drivers, there has been no progress, say public health experts, road safety groups and insurance industry representatives in The BMJ this week.
Experts question value of current obesity treatments The mantra in obesity treatment is 'eat less and move more'. But a leading group of obesity experts writing in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology question the belief that this is sufficient to treat obesity. They argue that obesity is a chronic disease with largely biological causes that cannot be cured with just diet and exercise.
	Swedish children visit virtual hospital before surgery Felicia Zander had a brain hemorrhage when she was six and spent more than a year in and out of hospital for x-rays, MRIs and about a dozen operations under general aesthetic.
	Cerebral palsy – it can be in your genes An international research group led by a team at the University of Adelaide has made what they believe could be the biggest discovery into cerebral palsy in 20 years.
	Psychological factors play a part in acupuncture for back pain People with back pain who have low expectations of acupuncture before they start a course of treatment will gain less benefit than those people who believe it will work, according to new Arthritis Research UK-funded research.
	It's time to look at how we value home care work There are two million home care workers in the United States. They change diapers, administer medications, bathe and dress people and transfer the immobile from one place to another. They also take care of tasks that are mundane annoyances to most of us—doing the dishes, cooking, vacuuming—but that make a world of difference to an elderly or disabled person who hopes to maintain a sense of dignity and security as they age at home.
	Immune 'traffic jam' from viral infection interferes with therapeutic antibodies Several drugs now used to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases are actually repurposed tools derived from the immune system. One of the ways these "therapeutic antibodies" work is to grab onto malignant or inflammatory cells and escort them to their doom.
Johnson & Johnson projects aim to spot who'll get a disease Imagine being able to identify people likely to develop a particular disease—and then stop it before it starts. This isn't a science fiction tale. It's the ambitious goal of three research projects just launched by Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical research arm, Janssen Research & Development, that the company says are aimed at redefining health care.
The impact of genital mutilation on mothers and babies UTS midwifery and public health researchers have led Australia's first study of the obstetric outcomes for women with female genital mutilation (FGM) and its impact on their babies.
Group recommends large-scale collaborative research into pain management The feasibility of conducting larger-scale research studies on nondrug approaches for pain management in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) should be assessed by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This recommendation was delivered in a report by a working group of the Center's Advisory Council.
Swiss tourist dies of swine flu in India as toll mounts A Swiss tourist died Thursday of swine flu while visiting India, a local health official said, as the country grapples with an outbreak that has killed more than 400 people since the start of 2015.
	High-intensity interval training benefits chronic stroke patients High-intensity interval training is a promising rehabilitation strategy for chronic stroke patients and may be superior to the current guidelines of moderate-intensity continuous exercise, new research from the University of Cincinnati (UC) shows.
	Researchers show brain activity can predict increased fat intake following sleep deprivation Experts have warned for years that insufficient sleep can lead to weight gain. A new Penn Medicine study found that not only do we consume more food following a night of total sleep deprivation, but we also we consume more fat and less carbohydrates and a region of the brain known as the salience network is what may lead us to eat more fat. The new findings are published in Scientific Reports.
	The secrets of longevity After numerous studies, it appears that scientists are beginning to unravel some of the secrets of aging. Genes certainly play a role in longevity, but it's been determined that only 35 percent of those living well into their 90's and 100's possess the longevity gene. What of the other 65 percent? Is it luck, healthy lifestyle choices, attitude?
Balancing bone formation and degradation key to osteoporosis treatment Most existing treatments for pathological bone loss inhibit osteoclasts (bone-destroying cells) to limit bone degradation. However, by doing this, they also prevent bone formation since it is stimulated by the presence of these very same osteoclast cells. Researchers from the CNRS, Inserm and the Université de Montpellier and Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne have developed a new approach for preventing the destructive activity of osteoclasts without affecting their viability. This involves disrupting their anchorage to the bone, which has been found to be possible using a small chemical compound called C21. This innovative treatment can protect mice from bone loss associated with osteolytic diseases such as post-menopausal osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and bone metastasis, without affecting bone formation. This research was published on 3 February 2015 in the journal Nature Communications.