Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 5

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Internet Explorer 11 vulnerability allows policy bypass 
- New process allows for stronger, lighter, flexible steel 
- NASA's LRO discovers lunar hydrogen more abundant on moon's pole-facing slopes 
- Tiny termites can hold back deserts by creating oases of plant life 
- When scientists play with LEGO: A new creative version of pinned insect manipulator 
- After merger, chimpanzees learned new grunt for 'apple' 
- Learning with all the senses: Movements and images facilitate vocabulary learning 
- Evolution continues despite low mortality and fertility rates in the modern world 
- March of the moons: Hubble captures rare triple moon transit of Jupiter (w/ Video) 
- Circadian clock-Angelman syndrome link established 
- Researchers describe spontaneous cure of rare immune disease 
- Stars are younger: 'Reionization' is more recent than predicted 
- Not candy crush—scientists identify nature of candy sculpture 
- The power of light-matter coupling 
- Cesium atoms shaken, not stirred, to create elusive excitation in superfluid 

Physics news

	New process allows for stronger, lighter, flexible steel (Phys.org) —A trio of researchers with South Korea's Graduate Institute of Ferrous Technology has found a way to create a new low-density steel that is stronger, lighter and more flexible than the conventional steel that is used in so many manufacturing applications. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes the process they used and their hopes that it might replace conventional steel in some applications sometime in the near future.
	Quantum physics can fight fraud by making card verification unspoofable Decades of data security research have brought us highly reliable, standardized tools for common tasks such as digital signatures and encryption. But hackers are constantly working to crack data security innovations. Current credit/debit card technologies put personal money at risk because they're vulnerable to fraud.
	Structurally reinforced hydrogel material developed using electrostatic repulsive force between nanosheets A joint research group successfully developed a material that expresses a unique mechanical property by arranging oxide nanosheets, that electrostatically repel each other, in the direction perpendicular to a magnetic field, and by confining a three-dimensional nano-network structure in a water-swollen gel material, hydrogel.
	Crystal boundaries on metals can enhance, or reduce, hydrogen's damaging effects When a metal tube lines an oil well thousands of feet below the surface of the ocean, that metal had better be solid and reliable. Unfortunately, the environment in such deep wells is often rich in hydrogen, a gas that can penetrate high-tech alloys and make them brittle—making fractures and leaks more likely.
The power of light-matter coupling A theoretical study shows that strong ties between light and organic matter at the nanoscale open the door to modifying these coupled systems' optical, electronic or chemical properties.
Probing electron behaviour at the tips of nanocones One of the ways of improving electrons manipulation is though better control over one of their inner characteristics, called spin. This approach is the object of an entire field of study, known as spintronics. Now, Richard Pincak from the Slovak Academy of Sciences and colleagues have just uncovered new possibilities for manipulating the electrons on the tips of graphitic nanocones. Indeed, in a study published in EPJ B, they have shown that because the tip area offers the greatest curvature, it gives rise, in the presence of defects, to an enhanced manifestation of a phenomenon called spin-orbit interaction. This, in turn, affects its electronic characteristics. These nanocones could thus become candidates for a new type of scanning probe in atomic force microscopy.
Not candy crush—scientists identify nature of candy sculpture A team of scientists has identified the complex process by which materials are shaped and ultimately dissolved by surrounding water currents. The study, conducted by researchers at NYU's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Florida State University, appears in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics.
	Cesium atoms shaken, not stirred, to create elusive excitation in superfluid Scientists discovered in 1937 that liquid helium-4, when chilled to extremely low temperatures, became a superfluid that could leak through glass, overflow its containers, or eternally gush like a fountain.

Earth news

	Preventing greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere A novel class of materials that enable a safer, cheaper, and more energy-efficient process for removing greenhouse gas from power plant emissions has been developed by a multi-institution team of researchers. The approach could be an important advance in carbon capture and sequestration (CCS).
	15-million-year-old mollusk protein found A team of US scientists have found "beautifully preserved" 15 million-year-old thin protein sheets in fossil shells from southern Maryland. Their findings are published in the inaugural issue of Geochemical Perspectives Letters, the new peer-reviewed journal of the European Association of Geochemistry.
	Dynamite explosions reveal secrets about what happens under tectonic plates (Phys.org)—Professors Tim Stern and Martha Savage and Drs Simon Lamb and Rupert Sutherland from Victoria's School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences—along with scientists from GNS Science and universities in the United States and Japan—developed new methods to get the most detailed images yet of the base of the tectonic plate beneath Wellington.
	Charting Colorado's vulnerability to climate change Sea-level rise may not be eating away at Colorado's borders, but climate change exposes other critical vulnerabilities in the state, according to a new report. Rising temperatures likely will take a toll on cattle and crops, for example, and could more often leave junior water rights holders with little water and few options.
	Seafloor volcano pulses may alter climate Vast ranges of volcanoes hidden under the oceans are presumed by scientists to be the gentle giants of the planet, oozing lava at slow, steady rates along mid-ocean ridges. But a new study shows that they flare up on strikingly regular cycles, ranging from two weeks to 100,000 years—and, that they erupt almost exclusively during the first six months of each year. The pulses—apparently tied to short- and long-term changes in earth's orbit, and to sea levels—may help trigger natural climate swings.
	Randomness of megathrust earthquakes implied by rapid stress recovery after the Japan earthquake Associate Professor Bogdan Enescu, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, collaborated with colleagues at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich), to show that the stress recovery following the 2011 M9.0 Tohoku-oki earthquake has been significantly faster than previously anticipated; specifically, the stress-state at the plate interface returned within just a few years to levels observed before the megathrust event. In addition, since there is no observable spatial difference in the stress state along the megathrust zone, it is difficult to predict the location and extent of future large ruptures.
	Study finds heavy rainfall events becoming more frequent on Hawai'i Island A recent study by University of Hawai'i at Mānoa researchers determined that heavy rainfall events have become more frequent over the last 50 years on Hawai'i Island. For instance, a rare storm with daily precipitation of nearly 12 inches, occurring once every 20 years by 1960, has become a rather common storm event on the Big Island of Hawai'i – returning every 3-5 years by 2009.
	Forests that are sacred to local people are less likely to suffer deforestation, study suggests Forests that are sacred to local people are less likely to suffer deforestation according to results of research by Bangor University.
	What is the world's widest river? The Amazon River is a heck of a big tributary. Besides being one of the LONGEST rivers in the world, it also happens to be the WIDEST. While its estimated length of 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) puts it under the Nile River, that statistic could be amended as some believe it's even longer than that.
A closer look at the flawed studies behind policies used to promote 'low-carbon' biofuels Nearly all of the studies used to promote biofuels as climate-friendly alternatives to petroleum fuels are flawed and need to be redone, according to a University of Michigan researcher who reviewed more than 100 papers published over more than two decades.
	Conservation looks good too: Residents say soil-saving fields and valleys are more scenic Researchers know that adding natural buffers to the farm landscape can stop soil from vanishing. Now scientists at Washington State University have found that more buffers are better, both for pleasing the eye and slowing erosion.
Southern forests' ability to suck carbon from the air may be slowing When U.S. Forest Service scientist David Wear hikes the trails crisscrossing the Appalachian Mountains, he pauses to revel not only in the beauty and solitude, but also to consider the remarkable role that the forest around him plays in the world's environment.
Scientists say ozone from Asia contributes to the West's pollution High above the Big Sur coast, Ian Faloona is finding pollution on the edge of the continent, a place that should have some of the country's cleanest air.
	Modeling nutrient loss from Midwestern crop fields In many Midwestern crop fields, excess water laden with nitrates drains into subsurface tile pipes and then flows into surface streams and rivers in the Mississippi River watershed. When the nutrient-rich field drainage reaches the Gulf of Mexico, it supports algal blooms that lower water oxygen levels and contribute to the development of the economically and environmentally devastating "dead zone."
	Climate summit hosts press India on emissions The French hosts of a UN climate summit later this year insisted Thursday that combatting global warming would not undermine efforts to fight poverty as they lobbied for India's support in cutting emissions.
	Rainforest Alliance audit confirms Jakarta deforestation unchecked Two years after Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) announced a new "forest conservation" policy, APP's pledge to halt forest clearing has held, but its forests are still disappearing.
A virtual solution for sharing water treatment innovations Academics and businesses involved in water treatment technology have the opportunity to foster partnerships through a new online platform. Developed by the groundbreaking EU-funded FP4BATIW project, the platform acts as a marketplace for technology offers and requests, and specifically covers the Mediterranean region. Indeed four Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPCs) – Egypt, Jordan, Palestine and Tunisia – are involved in the project.
	NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite sees pollution from fires in Southwestern Australia On February 5, 2015, several bushfires were raging near the city of Northcliff, located in southern Western Australia, triggering smoke alerts and generating aerosols that were detected by NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite.
UN climate chief tempers expectations on Paris deal (AP)—Tempering expectations on a global climate deal in Paris this year, the U.N.'s top climate diplomat on Thursday warned against assuming the pact will suffice to prevent dangerous levels of warming.
	In Rio favela, hungry caimans complicate water hunt Residents of a Rio de Janeiro favela face a dangerous challenge in their quest for clean drinking water: a canal infested with hungry caimans, South America's alligator cousins.

Astronomy & Space news

	NASA's LRO discovers lunar hydrogen more abundant on moon's pole-facing slopes Space travel is difficult and expensive – it would cost thousands of dollars to launch a bottle of water to the moon. The recent discovery of hydrogen-bearing molecules, possibly including water, on the moon has explorers excited because these deposits could be mined if they are sufficiently abundant, sparing the considerable expense of bringing water from Earth. Lunar water could be used for drinking or its components – hydrogen and oxygen – could be used to manufacture important products on the surface that future visitors to the moon will need, like rocket fuel and breathable air.
	Rosetta swoops in for a close encounter ESA's Rosetta probe is preparing to make a close encounter with its comet on 14 February, passing just 6 km from the surface.
	Image: Curiosity trek through 'Pahrump Hills' spotted by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter NASA's Curiosity Mars rover can be seen at the "Pahrump Hills" area of Gale Crater in this view from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Pahrump Hills is an outcrop at the base of Mount Sharp. The region contains sedimentary rocks that scientists believe formed in the presence of water.
	Stars are younger: 'Reionization' is more recent than predicted The highly anticipated update of the analysis of data from the European Space Agency's Planck satellite starts with a first paper published in Astronomy and Astrophysics, which already holds in store a few major surprises. The first article in fact "rejuvenates" the stars of our Universe. Thanks to new maps of cosmic background radiation (in particular, those containing "polarization anisotropies" of radiation) scientists have found that the "reionization" process could be more recent than estimated until now.
	March of the moons: Hubble captures rare triple moon transit of Jupiter (w/ Video) These new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope images capture a rare occurrence as three of Jupiter's largest moons parading across the giant gas planet's banded face. Hubble took a string of images of the event which show the three satellites—Europa, Callisto and Io—in action.
Japan anime fans plan to send 'Spear of Destiny' to moon Sci-fi fans in Japan are trying to raise nearly $1 million to recreate in real life a fictional scene in which the "Spear of Destiny" is plunged into the moon.
	Jupiter reaches opposition on February 6th Did you see the brilliant Full Snow Moon rising last night? Then you might've also noticed a bright nearby 'star'. Alas, that was no star, but the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter. And it was no coincidence that the king of the gas giants is near the Full Moon this February, as Jupiter reaches opposition this Friday on February 6th at 18:00 Universal Time or 1:00 PM EST.
	The earliest stages of star formation in the Ophiuchus molecular cloud Molecular cores are dense condensations within molecular clouds, in which stars are born. Guoyin Zhang et al. obtained 350 μm dust continuum data using the SHARC-II camera at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) telescope. A 350 μm map covering 0.25 deg2 of the Ophiuchus molecular cloud was created by mosaicing 56 separate scans. 75 cores have been identified on this high angular resolution map.The core mass function (CMF), which is the mass distribution of dense cores. They found that the whole and prestellar CMF are both well fitted by a log-normal distribution. This finding suggests that turbulence influences the evolution of the Ophiuchus molecular cloud. Their work, entitled "350 μm map of the Ophiuchus molecular cloud: core mass function", was published in SCIENCE CHINA Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy.
	Cosmology: Late news from the Big Bang Viatcheslav Mukhanov, cosmologist at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich, models the first instants after the creation of our Universe. Data from the Planck telescope have now confirmed beyond any reasonable doubt his theory of the quantum origin of structure in the Universe.

Technology news

	Internet Explorer 11 vulnerability allows policy bypass (Phys.org) —"Your authentication cookies could be up for grabs in the latest Internet Explorer 11 vulnerability," said Kareem Anderson in WinBeta on Wednesday. The targets are IE 11 on both Windows 7 and 8.1.
	Chassis 1A part from early computer resurfaces The National Museum of Computing has reported the discovery of a rare part of an early computer. With reconstruction expected to be completed later this year, the reconstruction team is eager to find out if there could be even more parts around. The EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator) was one of the world's first computers, originally built in Cambridge in the late 1940s.
	Internet regulator admits US control may be extended The head of the Internet overseer ICANN conceded Thursday that the United States may have to extend its control over the group beyond September as governments bicker over a replacement regulatory regime.
	Navy unveils firefighting robot prototype at tech expo (w/ Video) Scientists unveiled a firefighting robot prototype Feb. 4 at the Naval Future Force Science & Technology EXPO, revealing details about its successful demonstrations last fall aboard the USS Shadwell, a decommissioned Navy vessel.
	Astronomy image analysis algorithms adapted to cancer screening method Astronomy and oncology do not make obvious bedfellows, but the search for new stars and galaxies has surprising similarities with the search for cancerous cells. This has led to new ways of speeding up image analysis in cancer research.
	New algorithms allow autonomous systems to deal with uncertainty People typically consider doing the laundry to be a boring chore. But laundry is far from boring for artificial intelligence (AI) researchers like Siddharth Srivastava, a scientist at the United Technologies Research Center, Berkeley.
	Octopus robot makes waves with ultra-fast propulsion Scientists have developed an octopus-like robot, which can zoom through water with ultra-fast propulsion and acceleration never before seen in man-made underwater vehicles.
	High efficiency concentrating solar cells move to the rooftop (w/ Video) Ultra-high efficiency solar cells similar to those used in space may now be possible on your rooftop thanks to a new microscale solar concentration technology developed by an international team of researchers.
More big brands are tapping creative crowdsourcing sites To fashion an alluring look for its latest pair of DC Shoes, Quiksilver extended far beyond its team of in-house artists. It challenged a worldwide crowd.
10 years later, Amazon celebrates Prime's growth For shoppers, Amazon Prime often comes through, delivering that last-minute purchase for an almost forgotten birthday or an overlooked necessity for vacation travel.
	Samsung launches Tizen-powered TVs in home market South Korean electronics giant Samsung Electronics Co. has started domestic sales of high-end televisions powered by its Tizen operating system and plans to add washing machines, fridges and other appliances to the range of products that use the software.
	Apple in talks for streaming TV content Apple is in talks aimed at getting hold of content for a pay-television service, technology news website Re/code reported on Wednesday.
	Hackers infiltrate insurer Anthem, access customer details Health insurer Anthem said hackers infiltrated its computer network and gained access to a host of personal information for customers and employees, including CEO Joseph Swedish.
	Under Armour buys fitness app startups Athletic clothing maker Under Armour on Wednesday announced it is building its digital muscle with a pair of fitness application makers.
News Guide: Net neutrality and what it could mean to you (AP)—A top U.S. regulator just announced he wants more power to oversee Internet service, much in the same way that the government already regulates phone service and other public utilities. The goal is to prevent Internet service providers like AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Sprint and T-Mobile from blocking or slowing down Web traffic, or striking deals with companies that provide content like Amazon, Google or Netflix to move their data faster than others.
Netflix streaming service heading for Japan Netflix on Wednesday said that it will expand its online streaming television and movie service to Japan late this year.
Singapore plans 'real-time' aircraft tracking system Singapore said Thursday it will introduce a new aircraft tracking system that will ensure complete surveillance of its airspace, amid global efforts to prevent a repeat of Flight MH370's inexplicable disappearance.
	Twitter 'in talks with Google to boost online presence' Twitter has reached a deal with Google to make its short messages more visible on the Internet, Bloomberg said Thursday.
	Technique enables energy-harvesting sensors to be miniaturized Imagine a world where bridges, roads, heart valves or knee replacements could monitor themselves and send a warning signal before they fail. Imagine then, if these advanced pieces of technology could power themselves and operate for years without needing any maintenance.
	Researchers to begin work with news organizations in an effort to advance aerial journalism Leaders with the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership at Virginia Tech have outlined a research plan to study how reporters could use unmanned aircraft to gather news.
	Hundreds of ships go missing each year, but we have the technology to find them The seas are vast. And they claim vessels in significant numbers. The yachts Cheeki Rafiki, Niña, Munetra, Tenacious are just some of the more high-profile names on a list of lost or capsized vessels which grows by hundreds each year.
CEO-to-employee pay ratios are lower than popularly thought, according to study For the vast majority of United States commercial banks, the ratio of CEO-to-employee pay is substantially lower than the levels popularized in the financial media, according to a forthcoming study by accounting experts at Rice University and the University of Houston (UH). The study's findings carry special relevance in advance of this spring's proxy season, when America's publicly traded corporations hold their annual meetings to vote on company business, including CEO compensation.
Combined cyber and physical security system for charging electric vehicles As electricity grids become more sophisticated, grid administrators can collect instantaneous data on consumer and supplier behavior. The 'smart grid' then learns to improve the reliability, costs and sustainability of electricity distribution. However, smart grids present new security challenges, especially for mobile systems such as electric vehicles (EVs), which can be attacked both electronically and physically.
	Harnessing the power of drones to assess disaster damage When disaster strikes, it's important for responders and emergency officials to know what critical infrastructure has been damaged so they can direct supplies and resources accordingly.
	Hey Uber, expect a bumpy ride when Google drives into your market The news that Google is to get into the ride-hailing scene – the same taxis-that-aren't-taxis business pioneered by Uber – may have come as a surprise to some. We can speculate that it may even have come as a surprise to some at Uber that Google is to become a competitor, considering Google's chief legal officer David Drummond sits on Uber's board, and Google has invested hundreds of millions in the start up.
	Chances of saving with solar energy greater for Indiana farms than homes The probability of saving money by using solar energy rather than standard grid electricity is 92 percent for Indiana farm businesses and about 50 percent for homes, Purdue University energy economists find.
	Popular 'dashcams' catch everything from scammers to plane crashes The terrifying footage of a plane clipping a bridge in Taiwan and crashing into a river this week was a reminder that "dashcams" have become an increasingly standard piece of kit in cars around the world.
	Twitter steps up growth push as pressure builds Twitter is stepping up efforts to boost its user base and monetization as the messaging platform faces pressure from lackluster growth since its stock market splash debut in late 2013.
	Giant US health-data breach could lead to China Data on as many as 80 million customers at US health insurance giant Anthem was stolen by hackers, officials confirmed Thursday, in a cyberattack investigators have reportedly linked to China.
	Pfizer buying Hospira for about $15.23 billion (AP)—Pfizer is buying Hospira for approximately $15.23 billion, saying it is a good fit with its established global pharmaceutical business.
Health care stocks lead an early advance on Wall Street (AP)—Health care stocks were leading early gains in U.S. trading, while the energy sector also rose as the price of oil recovered from a stumble.
Do cops need college? A new study suggests college-educated cops are dissatisfied with the job, have negative views of their supervisors and don't necessarily favor community policing, a strategy aimed partly at reducing the number of deadly police-citizen incidents dominating the headlines.
Bosnian Serbs pass law limiting freedom of speech (AP)—Lawmakers in the Serb part of Bosnia passed a controversial law Thursday that allows authorities to fine people who post offensive content on social networks—a move rights activists have labeled as limiting freedom of expression.
Gov't investigating if Medicare data stolen in Anthem hack (AP)—The federal government is investigating whether the personal information of Medicare beneficiaries was stolen by hackers who breached health insurer Anthem's computer networks.
Your info has been hacked. Here's what you should do Hackers have stolen personal information from tens of millions of people with Anthem health insurance. The nation's second-largest health insurer, formerly known as WellPoint, said hackers stole Social Security numbers, names, birthdates, email addresses, employment details, incomes and street addresses of people who are currently covered or had coverage in the past.
Verizon gets $15B from wireline sale, tower leasing deal (AP)—Verizon Communications says it will make almost $15 billion from selling part of its wireline business and leasing thousands of wireless towers.
	LinkedIn's 4Q tops analyst views, stock surges to new high (AP)—LinkedIn maintained its perfect record of pleasant surprises as the online professional networking service expanded its reach during the fourth quarter and added more tools to help connect salespeople with potential customers.

Chemistry news

	Study reveals how oxygen is like kryptonite to titanium Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have found the mechanism by which titanium, prized for its high strength-to-weight ratio and natural resistance to corrosion, becomes brittle with just a few extra atoms of oxygen.
Fine-tuned supramolecular polymerization In nature, supramolecular complexes—chain-like structures that are composed of many small units linked mainly by weak non-covalent bonds—are assembled and disassembled in a precisely controlled way. Now, in work published in Science, researchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, led by Takuzo Aida, have demonstrated a new method for artificially building and dismantling supramolecular polymers in a tightly controlled and selective way, following the methods of traditional polymer chemistry by taking advantage of the monomer elements' own tendency to self-organize. This opens the way to the creation, though precision supramolecular engineering, or polymers with a wide range of properties that could be exploited for new applications.
Direct measurement of key molecule will increase accuracy of combustion models Sandia National Laboratories researchers are the first to directly measure hydroperoxyalkyl radicals—a class of reactive molecules denoted as "QOOH"—that are key in the chain of reactions that controls the early stages of combustion. This breakthrough has generated data on QOOH reaction rates and outcomes that will improve the fidelity of models used by engine manufacturers to create cleaner and more efficient cars and trucks.
	Turing also present at the nanoscale In the world of single atoms and molecules governed by chaotic fluctuations, is the spontaneous formation of Turing patterns possible - the same ones that are responsible for the irregular yet periodic shapes of the stripes on zebras' bodies? A Polish-Danish team of physicists has for the first time demonstrated that such a process can not only occur, but can also be used for potentially very interesting applications.

Biology news

	Shade coffee is for the birds: But even in the Ethiopian home of Arabica, forests are needed too The conservation value of growing coffee under trees instead of on open farms is well known, but hasn't been studied much in Africa. So a University of Utah-led research team studied birds in the Ethiopian home of Arabica coffee and found that "shade coffee" farms are good for birds, but some species do best in forest.
	Researchers identify key hormone-transporting protein for plant fertility Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have identified a transporter protein at the heart of a number of plant processes associated with fertility and possibly aging.
	How tuna stay warm with cold hearts Scientists at The University of Manchester, working with colleagues at Stanford University in America, have discovered how prized bluefin tuna keep their hearts pumping during temperature changes that would stop a human heart. The research helps to answer important questions about how animals react to rapid temperature changes, knowledge that's becoming more essential as the earth warms.
	Researchers confirm that neonicotinoid insecticides impair bee's brains Research at the Universities of St Andrews and Dundee has confirmed that levels of neonicotinoid insecticides accepted to exist in agriculture cause both impairment of bumblebees' brain cells and subsequent poor performance by bee colonies.
	How did multicellular life evolve? Scientists are discovering ways in which single cells might have evolved traits that entrenched them into group behavior, paving the way for multicellular life. These discoveries could shed light on how complex extraterrestrial life might evolve on alien worlds.
	Science dates old dogs with new tricks Man's best friend has not been around for nearly as long as thought, according to a study Thursday that brings the emergence of modern dogs forward by some 15,000 years.
Evolution continues despite low mortality and fertility rates in the modern world Charles Darwin's theory on evolution still holds true despite lower mortality and fertility rates in the modern world, according to new research by the University of Sheffield.
After merger, chimpanzees learned new grunt for 'apple' Chimpanzees have special grunts for particular types of foods, and their fellow chimps know exactly what those calls mean. Now, by studying what happened after two separate groups of adult chimpanzees moved in together at the Edinburgh Zoo, researchers have made the surprising discovery that our primate cousins can change those referential grunts over time, to make them sound more like those of new peers.
	When scientists play with LEGO: A new creative version of pinned insect manipulator Scientists from the Natural History Museum London are facing the challenges of mass digitization of museum specimens by inventing a creative, functional and most importantly quite cheap way to capture old and fragile specimens.
	Tiny termites can hold back deserts by creating oases of plant life Termites might not top the list of humanity's favorite insects, but new research suggests that their large dirt mounds are crucial to stopping the spread of deserts into semi-arid ecosystems and agricultural lands. The results not only suggest that termite mounds could make these areas more resilient to climate change than previously thought, but could also inspire a change in how scientists determine the possible effects of climate change on ecosystems.
	Massively parallel sequencing technology for single-cell gene expression published A publication released today in the journal Science demonstrates a new, massively parallel technology to interrogate gene expression at the single-cell level using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Authors Christina Fan, Ph.D., Glenn Fu, Ph.D., and Stephen Fodor, Ph.D., from Cellular Research, Inc., describe the technology and report results from several gene expression studies of cells from the human hematopoietic system.
	British botanists find unknown 'warty' orchid species British botanists have found a previously unrecorded orchid in the mountains of Cambodia, they said Thursday, ahead of a major orchid show at London's Kew Gardens.
	Researchers produce first map of New York City subway system microbes The microbes that call the New York City subway system home are mostly harmless, but include samples of disease-causing bacteria that are resistant to drugs—and even DNA fragments associated with anthrax and Bubonic plague—according to a citywide microbiome map published today by Weill Cornell Medical College investigators.
	Brazil scientists fear golden mussel threat to Amazon River The world's mightiest waterway, the Amazon River, is threatened by the most diminutive of foes—a tiny mussel invading from China.
	1, 2, 3 octopuses: Divers conduct underwater census (AP)—To check on the health of the giant Pacific octopus population in Puget Sound, an unusual census takes place every year. Volunteer divers, enlisted by the Seattle Aquarium, take to Washington's inland waters to look for their eight-tentacle neighbors.
	What blind beetles can teach us about evolution Evolution is often perceived as being a "directional" or "adaptive" process. We often think of species evolving to become stronger or faster, or to have sharper teeth, for example. And we tend to see this as being inherently progressive.
	Scientists find potential way of controlling leaf blotch disease in wheat Scientists have found a genetic mechanism that could stop the spread of a "devastating" disease threatening wheat crops.
Improving genome editing with drugs One of the most exciting scientific advances made in recent years is CRISPR—the ability to precisely edit the genome of cells. However, although this method has incredible potential, the process is extremely inefficient. Fortunately, scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have discovered a way to enhance the efficiency of CRISPR with the introduction of a few key chemical compounds.
	Genetics lab unravels mystery killing at sea Observers on a NOAA Fisheries marine mammal survey some 200 miles off the coast of Central California had spotted the telltale signs of a killer whale attack through high-powered binoculars a few miles away. Frenzied swimming churned the ocean surface. Geysers of bloody water sprayed into the air. Hungry seabirds circled in search of leftovers.
	Emergency declared after Galapagos ship grounding Ecuador activated a state of emergency Wednesday at the famous Galapagos Islands, authorities said, a week after the stranding of a cargo ship loaded with supplies that included hazardous materials.
	Norwegian lemmings dress loudly and scream even louder to survive The conspicuous, bold colors of the Norwegian lemming's fur and its loud barks serve as warnings to predators that it is not a creature to be messed with. This ferocity makes it unique among small rodents. Research on the matter by Malte Andersson at the University of Göteborg in Sweden appears in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.

Medicine & Health news

Team finds gene that confirms existence of psoriatic arthritis PsA is a common form of inflammatory form of arthritis causing pain and stiffness in joints and tendons that can lead to joint damage. Nearly all patients with PsA also have skin psoriasis and, in many cases, the skin disease is present before the arthritis develops. However, only one third of patients with psoriasis will go on to develop PsA.
	How communication among neurons changes over the course of development Using multiphoton imaging, scientists are now able to move beyond characterizing the properties of individual cells to investigate how communication among neurons changes over the course of development. In their paper published in Nature Neuroscience, researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience and Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies report substantial developmental changes in communication among cells that significantly improve the information processing capabilities of the brain.
	Researchers find that neurons in the primary visual cortex listen to just a small subset of synaptic inputs (Medical Xpress)—A team of bio-researchers with members affiliated with institutions in the U.K., Switzerland and Hong Kong, has found that neurons in the primary visual cortex of mice listen to just a small subset of the huge number of synaptic inputs vying for attention. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes how they combined two research methods to create a way to demonstrate how much impact different inputs have on neurons, at least in the visual cortex of mice. Benjamin Scholl and Nicholas Priebe, with the University of Texas, offer a News & Views perspective on the work in the same journal edition.
	Learning with all the senses: Movements and images facilitate vocabulary learning "Atesi" - what sounds like a word from the Elven language of Lord of the Rings is actually a Vimmish word meaning "thought". Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig have used Vimmish, an artificial language specifically developed for scientific research, to study how people can best memorise foreign-language terms.
	Circadian clock-Angelman syndrome link established Monitoring participants' biological clocks may be the quickest way to determine the effectiveness of experimental drugs currently under development to treat Angelman syndrome: a debilitating genetic disorder that occurs in more than one in every 15,000 live births.
	Researchers describe spontaneous cure of rare immune disease A genetic phenomenon called chromothripsis, or "chromosome shattering," may have spontaneously cured the first person to be documented with WHIM syndrome, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The patient was the subject of a 1964 study that first described the disorder, a syndrome of recurrent infections, warts and cancer caused by the inability of immune cells, particularly infection-fighting neutrophils, to leave the bone marrow and enter the bloodstream. In 2003, researchers identified the genetic mutations responsible for the disease, which occur in the CXCR4 gene.
Study highlights brain cells' role in navigating environment A new Dartmouth College study sheds light on the brain cells that function in establishing one's location and direction. The findings contribute to our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying our abilities to successfully navigate our environment, which may be crucial to dealing with brain damage due to trauma or a stroke and the onset of diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Carnivorous mushroom reveals human immune trick A carnivorous oyster mushroom defends itself against pest roundworms and can eat them too. One of the tricks it has is a hole-punching protein, just like one used by our immune system. Scientists say the humble oyster mushroom could tell us how our bodies fight disease.
	Age-related hepatitis B infection and the gut microbiome (Medical Xpress)—The hepatitis B virus (HBV), which affects the liver, behaves differently in different people depending on genetics and the age the person is when infected. Ninety-five percent of adults who contract hepatitis B clear the virus after several weeks. However, 90 percent of neonates and 30 percent of children under the age of five develop chronic hepatitis B, which can lead to liver damage.
Females with primary Sjogren's syndrome more likely to experience sexual dysfunction Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is the second most common systemic autoimmune disease behind rheumatoid arthritis, with female patients outnumbering males by a ratio of 9:1. Those affected often experience dryness of the eyes and mouth, together with a variety of other symptoms such as extreme fatigue and arthritis. There is also a high prevalence of vaginal dryness and difficult or painful sexual intercourse in women with pSS, along with symptoms common across rheumatic diseases such as pain, stiffness, negative body image, anxiety, reduced libido, and side-effects from treatments.
Improving the drug withdrawal process could reduce number of deaths The number of deaths associated with drugs that were subsequently withdrawn from the market could have been reduced had there been fewer delays in the withdrawal process, according to research published in the open access journal BMC Medicine. This situation could be improved by better reporting of these deaths and quicker action from manufacturers and regulators.
	Major study links two new genetic variants to breast cancer A worldwide study of the DNA of 100,000 women has discovered two new genetic variants associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
Large study of hypertension patients highlights key moments at which to intervene High blood pressure is the most common risk factor for heart disease and death worldwide, and yet the answers to some of the most basic questions about how to manage it - when to introduce new medications, intensify treatment or re-evaluate a patient - remain unclear. In a new study published this week in the British Medical Journal, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) examined the outcomes of 88,000 adults with hypertension to pinpoint the precise high-blood-pressure level and critical time points at which intervening was tied to a decrease in the risk of death.
	Research finds caloric energy benefit from cooking Have you ever wondered why it's so tough to put down that last slice of bacon? Part of the answer is that humans are evolutionarily programmed to crave fatty foods, which offer the biggest bang for the buck, nutritionally speaking, with more than twice the calorie density of protein- or starch-rich food.
Cannabinoids may be responsible for weight gain associated with schizophrenia Cannabinoids may be involved in the weight gain that occurs in people with schizophrenia who are treated with the antipsychotic olanzapine, according to a pilot study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology by researchers at the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (IUSMM) and Université de Montréal (UdeM).
	Neuroscience study points to possible use of medical marijuana for depression Scientists at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) are studying chronic stress and depression, with a focus on endocannabinoids, which are brain chemicals similar to substances in marijuana.
	Fear the measles virus – not the vaccine, says virologist When it comes to the measles outbreak that originated at California's Disneyland, it truly is a small world after all.
Two major studies strengthen case for prostate cancer drug before chemotherapy Pioneering prostate cancer drug abiraterone significantly extends the lives of men with advanced prostate cancer if given before chemotherapy, the results of a major phase III clinical trial have shown.
	Research finds income, education affect calorie menu use Fast food restaurants around the country are starting to look a little different. Step up to the counter and you may notice calorie counts listed next to food items on the menu. Which customers notice and use that information to make healthier choices depends on their income and education level.
	Unique research method reveals significant return on additional health care spending Because Americans spend more per capita on health care than residents of any country, debate has rumbled on for years about whether all that investment yields sufficient results. Now a newly published study with a distinctive design, led by an MIT health care scholar, shows that increased spending on emergency care does, in fact, produce better outcomes for patients.
	Online comments influence opinions on vaccinations With measles and other diseases once thought eradicated making a comeback in the United States, healthcare websites are on the spot to educate consumers about important health risks. Washington State University researchers say that people may be influenced more by online comments than by credible public service announcements (PSAs).
Poor vision more common in China's well-off kids: study A study involving 20,000 children in China said Thursday that poor kids are far less likely to be nearsighted than their wealthier peers.
'Encouraging' Ebola drug results in Guinea: researchers For the first time since the west African Ebola outbreak began over a year ago, a clinical trial with a candidate treatment has yielded "encouraging" results, researchers announced Thursday.
New method to produce bone replacement implants for severely damaged skulls A biomedical engineering team based at the University of Sydney has developed a new low cost method for producing bone replacement implants for severely damaged skulls.
Researchers find new way to use electric fields to deliver cancer treatment A team of researchers has devised a new way to target tumors with cancer-fighting drugs, a discovery that may lead to clinical treatments for cancer patients.
Study identifies genetic variation in cellular stress A new Cornell study examines how genetic differences among individuals impact cellular stress, a first step in understanding how this stress response relates to human diseases, such as diabetes.
	Study links new genetic anomalies to breast cancer in African American families The "Jewels in our Genes" study, led by University at Buffalo researcher Heather Ochs-Balcom, has uncovered previously unknown segments of DNA shared by African American family members who have breast cancer.
Study suggests 33% of high school seniors support legalized marijuana New research from Journal of Psychoactive Drugs has found that 33 percent of High School Seniors support legalized marijuana and 25.6 percent believe marijuana should be considered a crime. As debate has swept the country—with legalization already passed in four states and Washington DC —this study focuses on a group with an exceptionally strong pull on the future.
	Text messages a new tool in the fight to prevent skin cancer Australians' love affair with mobile phones could save their life according to a joint QUT, Cancer Council Queensland and University of Queensland study using text messages to improve skin cancer prevention and promote sun protection.
	Seizures knock out brain arousal centers People with epilepsy who experience focal seizures sometimes remain mobile but are unable to hear or respond to their environment. Yale School of Medicine researchers have discovered a surprising explanation for this zoned-out state.
	New tool helps identify lung cancer patients who will respond to immune therapies A Yale-led team of researchers has developed a new assay, or investigative tool, to measure the anti-tumor immune activity in non-small cell lung cancer tumors that could lead to a more accurate determination of which patients will respond to immune therapy drugs. Findings from the study were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.