Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Feb 4

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 4, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Study shows cockroaches have individual personalities that impact group dynamicscockroaches 
- Why do our photoreceptors respond to light by turning off? 
- Researchers reprogram plants for drought tolerance 
- Cheap and abundant chemical outperforms precious metals as a catalyst 
- Engineers create smartphone accessory for rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases—HIV and syphilis—at point of care 
- The brain's social network: Nerve cells interact like friends on Facebook 
- Artificially intelligent robot scientist 'Eve' could boost search for new drugs 
- Study suggests similarity between how pigeons learn the equivalent of words and the way children do 
- Stay or stray? Study delves into sexual behaviour 
- US proposal seeks to head off Internet 'fast lanes' (Update) 
- X-ray pulses uncover free nanoparticles for the first time in 3-D 
- How eyes reveal the brain's focus 
- Brain marker hints at depression, anxiety years later 
- New catalyst uses light to convert nitrogen to ammonia 
- Eero Wi-Fi system aims to conquer dead zones, buffering 

Nanotechnology news

	Scientists discover how to prevent dendrite formation in batteries Today's batteries cannot take in all of a wind farm's energy on a blustery night and hold it until it is needed the next day. A promising option is to create a higher capacity battery by replacing the negative electrode in conventional batteries with one made of lithium metal. The problem? Dendrites-deposits that form on electrode surfaces during the charging process-cause the batteries to short circuit, leading to serious safety hazards. Recently, scientists discovered how to prevent dendrite formation. For the first time, a team including experts at DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory grew protective films around the anodes that prevented dendrites from forming.
New nanoparticle gene therapy strategy effectively treats deadly brain cancer in rats Despite improvements in the past few decades with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, a predictably curative treatment for glioma does not yet exist. New insights into specific gene mutations that arise in this often deadly form of brain cancer have pointed to the potential of gene therapy, but it's very difficult to effectively deliver toxic or missing genes to cancer cells in the brain. Now, Johns Hopkins researchers report they have used nanoparticles to successfully deliver a new therapy to glioma cells in the brains of rats, prolonging their lives. A draft of the study appeared this week on the website of the journal ACS Nano.
	X-ray pulses uncover free nanoparticles for the first time in 3-D For the first time, a German-American research team has determined the three-dimensional shape of free-flying silver nanoparticles, using DESY's X-ray laser FLASH. The tiny particles, hundreds of times smaller than the width of a human hair, were found to exhibit an unexpected variety of shapes, as the physicists from the Technical University (TU) Berlin, the University of Rostock, the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in the United States and from DESY report in the scientific journal Nature Communications. Besides this surprise, the results open up new scientific routes, such as direct observation of rapid changes in nanoparticles.
	Coating noble metal nanoparticles with silica A straightforward and effective process for coating silver, gold and platinum nanoparticles with functionalized silica shells at room temperature has been developed by A*STAR . Crucially, unlike conventional methods for producing silica-coated metal nanoparticles, this process is based on water and does not employ alcohol, making it both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
	An end to the medicine dropper for eye injuries? For years, treating scratches and burns to the eyes has usually involved dropping medicine onto the eyes several times a day, sometimes for weeks—a treatment that lends itself to missed doses and other side effects. But scientists are now reporting in the journal ACS Nano a novel, drug-releasing wafer that patients can put directly on their affected eyes just once a day. The team says the device works better than drops and could help patients recover faster.

Physics news

	Researchers find evidence of fractal behavior in pulsating stars (Phys.org)—A team of researchers working at the University of Hawaii using data from the Kepler space telescope, has found that the oscillations made by a star conform closely to the golden mean—further study showed that it also behaves in a fractal pattern. In their paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters, the team describes their analysis of data from the pulsating star KIC 5520878, captured over a period of several years, and why what they found is cause for excitement.
	Creating high-resolution full-color moving holograms in 3-D Three-dimensional (3D) movies, which require viewers to wear stereoscopic glasses, have become very popular in recent years. However, the 3D effect produced by the glasses cannot provide perfect depth cues. Furthermore, it is not possible to move one's head and observe that objects appear different from different angles—a real-life effect known as motion parallax. Now, A*STAR researchers have developed a new way of generating high-resolution, full-color, 3D videos that uses holographic technology.
	Cosmic inflation: Dust finally settles on BICEP2 results Reports of evidence of cosmic inflation may have been, well, overblown.
	Design and construction of the DEAP-3600 dark-matter detector This spring, scientists at SNOLAB will switch on a dark-matter detector that was designed and built at the University of Alberta.
Negative capacitance detected Prof. Gustau Catalan has published in Nature Materials a commentary on the measurement of negative capacitance presented by the teams led by Prof Sayeef Salahuddin and Prof. Ramesh in the same magazine. The study detects negative capacitance in ferroelectrics, a field in which ICN2 researchers have significant expertise.

Earth news

	Evaluating the link between snowfall and avalanches Ski resorts and researchers could potentially rely on statistics to evaluate the long-term avalanche activity on their slopes with a simple webcam, a weather station, and several years' worth of observations. Researchers from EPFL have validated a statistical avalanche model that translates observations into an assessment of the link between snowfall and avalanches.
	North american plate shattered speed records a billion years ago North America traveled in fast company back in its youth.
	Researchers get rare lightning video A team of Florida Institute of Technology researchers led by Associate Professor Ningyu Liu has captured rare and hard-to-predict upward-moving lightning discharges on video, allowing for the study of this phenomenon in a way that has not been previously possible.
	Inhospitable climate fosters gold ore formation South Africa's Witwatersrand is the site of the world's largest and richest gold deposit. In order to explain its formation, ETH professor Christoph Heinrich took a look back into the Earth's early climatic history.
	Evidence from warm past confirms recent IPCC estimates of climate sensitivity New evidence showing the level of atmospheric CO2 millions of years ago supports recent climate change predications from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
	Holiday parks near unpatrolled beaches put tourists in harm's way More than 90% of coastal tourist parks in NSW are located adjacent to surf beaches that are rated moderately to highly hazardous for swimming, a UNSW study shows.
	Study finds high marine debris, need for standardized reporting along Georgia coast University of Georgia researchers are hoping to find a consistent way to record the marine debris—particularly pieces of plastic—crowding Georgia's beaches as part of an effort to find a solution for the growing problem.
	FLEX mission could identify invisible stress in vegetation Field experiments have shown how ESA's potential FLEX mission could identify vegetation that is suffering degrees of stress invisible to the naked eye.
	The Anthropocene has been shaped by the media and our digital lives The Earth recently entered a new epoch – the Anthropocene. Since the dawn of modern mechanised industry and the use of fossil fuels, the story goes that human beings have become the dominant force for change in our atmosphere, seas and land.
	Using solar energy to improve desalination process An Aston University academic has proposed a new process to decompose waste desalination brine using solar energy, neutralising ocean acidity and reducing damaging environmental impacts.
Norway to cut climate pollution by 40 percent by 2030 Norway will cut its emissions of global warming gases by at least 40 percent by 2030, aligning itself with the target set by the European Union, the government said Wednesday.
	Pilbara and Mid West iron ore deposits share similar genesis A UWA geologist says the high-grade iron ore reserve at Wiluna West in the Mid West is similar to those being mined at Mt Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Mt WhaleBack in the Pilbara.
	What was the impact that killed the dinosaurs? What suddenly made the dinosaurs disappear 65 million or 66 million years ago? Whatever it was, all indications show that it was a massive extinction event. The fossil record not only shows dinosaurs disappearing, but also numerous other species of the era. Whatever it was, there was a sudden change in the environment that changed evolution forever.
	Could New England face a major earthquake?' A recent series of small earthquakes in Connecticut posed the question. Geologist Terry Tullis, an earthquake specialist, says the chances of a damaging quake are remote, but they are not zero. This commentary appeared in the Providence Journal on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2015.
	Minister says India 'walking the talk' on climate change India's government on Tuesday defended its efforts to combat climate change after US President Barack Obama urged the country to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
	Yellow light for forest-saving programme in Indonesia Dr Andrew McGregor, from Victoria's School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, has been working with a team of international experts examining the societal impacts of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) programme, developed through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and voluntary carbon markets.
Satellite animation shows February return of the Pineapple Express The "Pineapple Express" has set up again and is bringing wet weather to the U.S. Pacific Northwest. An animation of satellite imagery from NOAA's GOES-West satellite from Feb. 1 to Feb. 4, 2015 captured the movement of a stream of clouds associated with moisture that is expected to bring rain and snow to the region over the next several days.

Astronomy & Space news

	VISTA stares right through the Milky Way A new image taken with ESO's VISTA survey telescope reveals the Trifid Nebula in a new light. By observing in infrared light, astronomers can see right through the central parts of the Milky Way and spot many previously hidden objects. In one of the VISTA surveys, astronomers have discovered very distant Cepheid variable stars. They are the first such stars found that lie in the central plane of the Milky Way beyond its central bulge.
	New Horizons returns new images of Pluto (Phys.org)—Pluto discoverer Clyde Tombaugh could only dream of a spacecraft flying past the small planet he spotted on the edges of the solar system in 1930. Yet the newest views of Pluto from NASA's approaching New Horizons probe – released today, on the late American astronomer's birthday – hint at just how close that dream is to coming true.
	Progress toward the understanding of the galactic structure Researchers at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias are studying the evolution and formation of hundreds of close galaxies and have just published new scientific images.
	Rare images of red sprites captured at ESO At the ESO's observatories located high in the Atacama Desert of Chile, amazing images of distant objects in the Universe are captured on a regular basis. But in January 2015, ESO photo ambassador Petr Horálek captured some amazing photos of much closer phenomena: red sprites flashing in the atmosphere high above distant thunderstorms.
	Scientists predict earth-like planets around most stars Planetary scientists have calculated that there are hundreds of billions of Earth-like planets in our galaxy which might support life.
	How do cats deal with being weightless? Since my previous post was about dogs, its time to give equal time to the cats … although I'm guessing the cat lovers of the world won't have a great reaction to this one. Here's some footage from some the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories which include a test of the effects of weightlessness on cats in a C-131 "vomit comet" that simulates weightlessness. Best I can tell, this research was done in 1947. Think of it in the same vein as all those weird tests the early astronauts had to endure.
	This is what war (and borders) look like from space There's an oft-used idiom that you can't see political borders from space, but we've known for a while it's no longer true. Between higher resolution cameras and the increase in human activity, there have been several examples of borders visible from space. Here's one more.

Technology news

	Artificially intelligent robot scientist 'Eve' could boost search for new drugs Eve, an artificially-intelligent 'robot scientist' could make drug discovery faster and much cheaper, say researchers writing in the Royal Society journal Interface. The team has demonstrated the success of the approach as Eve discovered that a compound shown to have anti-cancer properties might also be used in the fight against malaria.
	High-speed images capture patterns by which raindrops spread pathogens among plants Farmers have long noted a correlation between rainstorms and disease outbreaks among plants. Fungal parasites known as "rust" can grow particularly rampant following rain events, eating away at the leaves of wheat and potentially depleting crop harvests.
	Alibaba deploys drones to deliver tea in China Echoing US online retailer Amazon, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba on Wednesday tested a drone delivery service, promising to whisk ginger tea to customers within an hour despite close controls on airspace.
	Showing the 3D-printed brick way to cool a room How about cooling a room with a 3D-printed ceramic "Cool Brick" using only water? This is an example of how 3D printing technology can take advantage of a known approach called evaporative cooling, which, long before refrigeration came on the scene, was used.
	Floating wind turbines bring electricity where it's needed It's a balloon that lifts a wind turbine. That's the easiest way to describe the technology being developed by Altaeros Energies, led by Ben Glass, inventor and CEO of the young company. Glass has reimagined the possibilities of balloon and airship technology to lift a wind turbine.
	US proposal seeks to head off Internet 'fast lanes' (Update) The top US telecom regulator proposed Wednesday to regulate broadband Internet service providers as "public utility" carriers, in a renewed effort to enforce "net neutrality" rules.
	Eero Wi-Fi system aims to conquer dead zones, buffering The makers of a sleek-looking white box called Eero are pointing out that this is no router—it's a Wi-Fi system with features that are capable of blanketing every inch of your home with speedy coverage. With Eero, you create a network easily. "Pick up your phone, type in your name and password, you're done," said its promotional video. An Eero comes with built-in Bluetooth, which allows the Eero app to connect with your first Eero for setup. A set of three Eeros covers a typical home. They connect to create a mesh network for a home with reliable Wi-Fi. After you plug your first Eero into your existing cable or DSL modem; additional ones just need power from a standard outlet. The app helps place them for optimal Wi-Fi coverage. The team said the setup takes under 60 seconds with "no Ethernet wiring or IT degree required." The distinctive aspect of Eero is that the Eeros work together to form a mesh network, a technology familia! r in enterprise settings.
	China tightens rules on Internet use, online comments China announced Wednesday that users of blogs and chat rooms will be required to register their names with operators and promise in writing to avoid challenging the Communist political system, further tightening control over Internet use.
	Sony trims full-year loss forecast to $1.4 billion (Update) Sony Corp. trimmed its forecast of losses and gave a figure for damages from the Sony Pictures hack, but said it would suffer no significant harm from the cyberattack in the long run.
	'Sharing economy' reshapes markets, as complaints rise Want to make a bit of extra cash driving strangers around in your car, taking care of someone's dog, renting your apartment or cooking a meal?
FutureGen to be shut down after feds withdraw $1B in funding Coal companies working with the government on the long-planned $1.65 billion FutureGen clean-coal project said Tuesday they have no choice but to shut it down after the Department of Energy suspended the majority of its funding.
	The Fine Print: Unlimited data plans have limits With cellular-data plans, unlimited doesn't really mean unlimited. Some carriers threaten to slow down speeds after heavy use or curb how much you can stray from their own networks.
	Investors' appetite for startups fed by stock market gains Some Entrepreneurs looking for startup funding got a wad of money near the end of last year, but there are concerns the boom may not last.
	Yahoo gains search share thanks to Firefox In December, Yahoo replaced Google as the default search engine on the Firefox browser. The result: Yahoo's highest market share numbers in more than five years.
Energizer turns to recycled materials to power up its battery business Consumers will soon have the option to power their radios, remote controls and other devices with AA and AAA batteries made from recycled battery materials, an industry first that Energizer Holdings says will pave the way for all its batteries to be made with recycled material.
Drone maker plans software to block Washington flights The Chinese maker of a drone that a hobbyist crashed at the White House says it is taking steps to ensure that cannot happen again.
A wave of financial tech firms is shaking up the world of banking Digital technology and pervasive access to the internet have reshaped many industries, and banking is no exception: Hampden and Co is the latest in a short but growing list of digital-only banks built not of bricks and mortar, safes and strongboxes, but which instead operate entirely virtually in the realm of cloud computing.
Understanding air pollution from biomass burners used for heating As many places in the U.S. and Europe increasingly turn to biomass rather than fossil fuels for power and heat, scientists are focusing on what this trend might mean for air quality—and people's health. One such study on wood-chip burners' particulate emissions, which can cause heart and lung problems, appears in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels. The scientists say the findings could help manufacturers reduce the negative impact of this fuel in the future.
	To catch a drone: Govts seek ways to counter tiny fliers What's the best way to counter an unwelcome drone: a bigger, faster drone, laser guns, sky-high netting or devices that block remote controls?
3-D printers to make human body parts? It's happening It sounds like something from a science fiction plot: So-called three-dimensional printers are being used to fashion prosthetic arms and hands, jaw bones, spinal-cord implants - and one day perhaps even living human body parts.
Nadella wraps up first year as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's first year at the helm of Microsoft is in the books.
ARM CEO sets sights on servers, Internet of Things Just about everyone knows about PCs that have Intel inside. But you may actually own more devices now that have ARM inside.
Beijing-based Xiaomi is fast emerging as the Apple rival to watch It wasn't long ago that everybody wondered whether Apple Inc. could effectively compete against a tough bunch of homegrown smartphone makers in China.
Review: Sling TV a promising new take on pay TV, but needs work I really like the idea of Sling TV - and a lot of other folks might appreciate a twenty-buck pay TV bill as well - but right now, Dish's new low-cost TV service requires too many compromises for me and probably for you, too.
Man convicted of operating underground website Silk Road A San Francisco man was swiftly convicted Wednesday of creating and operating an underground website that prosecutors said enabled drug dealers around the world to reach customers they would never find on the street.
Q&A: Some things to know about Internet open-access proposal After being swamped with heated opinions on both sides of the issue, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler has finally released a proposal to overhaul Internet regulation in an effort to ensure everyone has equal access to all legal content available online.
	Sony says studio hack cost $15M, trims loss forecast Sony Corp. trimmed its forecast of losses and estimates the Sony Pictures hack cost it about $15 million, but expects no significant harm from the cyberattack in the long run.
	US to destroy its largest remaining chemical weapons cache The United States is about to begin destroying its largest remaining stockpile of chemical-laden artillery shells, marking a milestone in the global campaign to eradicate a debilitating weapon that still creeps into modern wars.
	Japan hacker jailed after cat-and-mouse game with police A Japanese hacker who hijacked computers in order to issue death threats, leading to the arrest of several innocent people, was jailed on Wednesday for his high-stakes games of cat and mouse with police.
NY jury preparing to decide fate of Silk Road creator Prosecutors say a San Francisco man enabled drug dealers worldwide to reach customers they would never find on the street through the underground website Silk Road, but a defense lawyer says the 30-year-old was set up by manipulated evidence.
TechDay startup expo coming to Los Angeles A sprawling showcase of tech startups expects to draw more than 5,500 people in June to its first Los Angeles event.
	Imec introduces new snapshot hyperspectral image sensors with mosaic filter architecture At next week's SPIE Photonics West 2015, imec will present a new set of snapshot hyperspectral CMOS image sensors featuring spectral filter structures in a mosaic layout, processed per-pixel on 4x4 and 5x5 'Bayer-like' arrays.
	Improved planning for the evacuation of buildings A simulation software from Siemens can analyze people's behavior in emergency situations. The software known as "Crowd Control" calculates how individuals or crowds will behave and move in emergencies. The program allows experts to observe and optimize evacuation and rescue measures in advance and in real time. Making such improvements is one of the most complex tasks that security officers have to perform.
	Developing radically new technologies for X-ray systems Siemens is investigating entirely new concepts for X-ray systems. The aim is to achieve a radical increase in imaging resolution and to enable phase-contrast X-ray imaging. This entirely new technique helps, for instance, in the identification of tumors. Moreover, examinations involving cardiovascular diseases can be carried out without contrast agents. Nearly one out of ten patients suffer from allergic reactions to these substances. A multi-year R&D project, which is scheduled to run until 2017, brings together experts from Siemens Healthcare und Corporate Technology and includes external partners. An article on this subject is now available on the online magazine Pictures of the Future.
	Bringing open source cameras to the film-making industry What had started off as a handful of enthusiasts' bid to build the first open digital cinema, camera, AXIOM, from scratch has now become a platform for film-makers, creative industry professionals, artists and enthusiasts – and they have just received good news.
Supercapacitors poised to help boost vehicle fuel efficiency Unlike slow and steady batteries, supercapacitors gulp up energy rapidly and deliver it in fast, powerful jolts. A growing array of consumer products is benefiting from these energy-storage devices, reports Chemical & Engineering News, the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, with cars and trucks—and their drivers—poised to be major beneficiaries.
	China, Argentina agree on work for new nuclear power plants Chinese and Argentine leaders on Wednesday signed a batch of agreements, including collaboration on two new nuclear power plants, as Beijing is strengthening its relations with the South American country.
	'Kim Kardashian' game maker Glu creating Katy Perry game Glu Mobile, the developer of the popular "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood" game, said it will develop a new mobile game with singer Katy Perry.

Chemistry news

	Cheap and abundant chemical outperforms precious metals as a catalyst A team of Caltech chemists has discovered a method for producing a group of silicon-containing organic chemicals without relying on expensive precious metal catalysts. Instead, the new technique uses as a catalyst a cheap, abundant chemical that is commonly found in chemistry labs around the world—potassium tert-butoxide—to help create a host of products ranging from new medicines to advanced materials. And it turns out that the potassium salt is more effective than state-of-the-art precious metal complexes at running very challenging chemical reactions.
New catalyst uses light to convert nitrogen to ammonia Northwestern University scientists are the first to develop a catalyst that can perform a remarkable feat found only in nature: take nitrogen from the air and turn it into ammonia under natural conditions. No high temperatures or pressure required.
	New microscopy technique allows mapping protein synthesis in living tissues and animals Researchers at Columbia University have made a significant step toward visualizing complex protein metabolism in living systems with high resolution and minimum disturbance, a longstanding goal in the scientific community. In a recent study published in ACS Chemical Biology, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Wei Min's research team has reported a light microscopy method to image where the new proteins are produced and where the old proteins are degraded inside living tissues and animals.
	Researchers clarify structure and function of new enzyme that reduces sulfite even faster Sulfites are sulfurous substances that occur naturally. They are poisonous for many life forms even at small concentrations. Sulfites and sulfur dioxide are also added to wine and dried fruit as preservatives that inhibit the growth of unwanted microorganisms, increasing the shelf-life of these products. The biochemists Prof. Dr. Oliver Einsle and Dr. Bianca Hermann from the University of Freiburg have teamed up with researchers from the Technische Universität Darmstadt for a project in which they characterised a bacterial enzyme that reduces sulfite up to one hundred times faster than any other known enzyme.
	Five synthetic materials with the power to change the world The New York World's Fair of 1939-40 was one of the greatest expos the world had ever seen. Visitors to Flushing Meadow Park in Queens were invited to see the "world of tomorrow" giving them a first glimpse of wonders such as the television, the videophone and the Ford Mustang.
	Preventing build-up of toxic fouling films on medical devices A 'one-step' coating that blocks protein growth and kills surface-bound bacteria on silicone may significantly reduce infections from medical devices such as catheters, finds a study led by A*STAR Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology researchers. Yi Yan Yang and international co-workers accomplished this with a synthetic technique that combines biomimetic surface adhesion and antimicrobial capabilities into a brush-like polymer film.
	New type of membrane permits cheaper and more efficient water purification New selective membranes in the form of thin hollow straws can improve water purification. This emerges from research by Joris de Gooth from UT's MESA+ research institute. The membranes that De Grooth jointly developed make it possible to purify water in a single process step, while preliminary treatment is always required in existing water treatment plants. The most important benefits of the new membranes are that they can make the provision of drinking water easier and therefore cheaper and can improve the removal of micropollutants such as pharmaceutical residues. De Gooth will be awarded a doctorate for his research on 4 February at the University of Twente.
	Tiny robotic 'hands' could improve cancer diagnostics, drug delivery Many people imagine robots today as clunky, metal versions of humans, but scientists are forging new territory in the field of 'soft robotics.' One of the latest advances is a flexible, microscopic hand-like gripper. The development could help doctors perform remotely guided surgical procedures or perform biopsies. The materials also could someday deliver therapeutic drugs to hard-to-reach places. The report appears in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

Biology news

	Stay or stray? Study delves into sexual behaviour Scientists said Wednesday they had amassed the first evidence to back theories that people fall into two broad categories—promiscuity or faithfulness—when it comes to sex.
	Study shows cockroaches have individual personalities that impact group dynamicscockroaches (Phys.org) —A team of researchers working at Université libre de Bruxelles has found that not only do cockroaches have unique individual personalities, but their differences can also have an impact on group dynamics. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes the experiments they conducted as part of their study and why what they learned might help explain why roaches are so good at surviving in different types of environments.
	Researchers reprogram plants for drought tolerance Crops and other plants are constantly faced with adverse environmental conditions, such as rising temperatures (2014 was the warmest year on record) and lessening fresh water supplies, which lower yield and cost farmers billions of dollars annually.
	Study suggests similarity between how pigeons learn the equivalent of words and the way children do The more scientists study pigeons, the more they learn how their brains—no bigger than the tip of an index finger—operate in ways not so different from our own.
	Machine learning offers insights into evolution of monkey faces Computers are able to use monkey facial patterns not only to correctly identify species, but also distinguish individuals within species, a team of scientists has found. Their findings, which rely on computer algorithms to identify guenon monkeys, suggest that machine learning can be a tool in studying evolution and help to identify the factors that have led to facial differentiation in monkey evolution.
	Biologists find tropical wasps attack intruders with unfamiliar faces Researchers at Queen Mary University of London in collaboration with the University of Florence, have discovered that a species of tropical wasps can memorize the faces of members of their colony and will attack any individual with an unfamiliar face. These wasps can also recognize the smell of their nestmates, but pay more attention to the unique facial patterns in their species when considering whether an individual is friend or foe.
	Researchers conduct study to determine impact of using drones to study birds (Phys.org)—A team of researchers working in various parts of France has conducted a study to determine the impact on birds when researchers use drones to study or watch them. In their paper published in Royal Society Biology Letters, the team describes the experiments they carried out and offer suggestions based on what they learned to others planning to use drones in their bird studies.
What studies into male birds tell us about reproduction in later life Studies into male birds that produce offspring well into their old age could deepen concerns over the trend for delaying parenthood until later in life, for both men and women.
	Bacterial adaptive defenses could aid in disease prevention Bacteria have a sophisticated means of defending themselves, and they need it: more viruses infect bacteria than any other biological entity.
	Scientists discover viral 'Enigma machine' Researchers have cracked a code that governs infections by a major group of viruses including the common cold and polio.
	Culture shock: Are lab-grown cells a faithful model for human disease? Cell cultures used in biology and medical research may not act as a faithful mimic of real tissue, according to research published in Genome Biology.
	'Arabian Ark' helps save wildlife from extinction Oryx, giraffes and cheetahs roam an "Arabian Ark" nature reserve on a desert Gulf island where species once facing extinction in the region are making a comeback.
	A rare new plant inspires the first genus named after Sir David Attenborough A new genus and species of flowering plants from the custard apple family, Annonaceae, has been discovered in the jungles of Gabon by French and Gabonese botanists. The extraordinary genus was named Sirdavidia, after Sir David Attenborough to honour his influence on the life and careers of the scientists who discovered it. The study was published in the open access journal PhytoKeys.
	Complete genomes from single cells still elusive DOE Joint Genome Institute researchers review the status of single-cell genomics, and how close scientists are to being able to reconstruct an individual cell's genome.
	Ingenious fine-tuning of plant photosynthesis Malgorzata Pietrzykowska has investigated the specific roles of the two most abundant membrane proteins on Earth, Lhcb1 and 2. Both of them are responsible for light harvesting which is the basis of photosynthesis, the process which sustains life on Earth by providing the oxygen we breathe and the food we eat. She defends her thesis at Umeå University on Friday 6 February.
	Hormone sensitive gene regulation in seasonal singing birds Nature lovers are fascinated by the increasing number of singing birds when spring is approaching. Scientists also take advantage of this seasonal phenomenon because they are able to investigate the underlying mechanism, however the evolutionary and molecularbiological background is largely unknown. A team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen and from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin have now identified the genome of the canary. With these data they were able to decipher the evolution of hormone-sensitive gene regulation in seasonal singing birds.
	A bright-yellow new species of water frog from the Peruvian Andes Scientists discovered a new water frog species from the Pacific slopes of the Andes in central Peru. The discovery was published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
	Lonely zoo orca in Florida gets 'endangered' protection Lolita, a captive orca that has spent more than four decades in an aquarium tank, deserves the same endangered species protection as her wild relatives, officials said Wednesday.
	New method to assess hormone metabolite concentrations in wildlife research Measuring hormone metabolites in urine and faeces are essential for studies in wildlife conservation. Scientists from the German Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) developed a new method with which they can match metabolite concentrations obtained from different measurements during long-term studies or from analyses carried out in different laboratories. The study has been published in the scientific journal "Methods in Ecology and Evolution".
	How happy and healthy is your rabbit? Rabbits are the UK's third most popular pet, after cats and dogs, with around 1.7 million kept as pets but very little is known about their quality of life. A new University of Bristol study has found although many pet rabbits are happy and healthy several issues, including living alone or with unsuitable animals, affect many rabbits.
What is the benefit of protected European areas for reptiles and amphibians? In a new project of the University of Twente, researchers of the faculty ITC will be studying how much reptiles and amphibians are protected by the network of European protected areas which are together called the Natura 2000 network. Natura 2000 areas cover almost 20% of the land surface of the 28 member states. They already make a major contribution to the economy of Europe by providing a vital range of goods and (ecosystem) services that contribute to jobs and human wellbeing.
	Pigeon pageant for beautiful birds dispels 'rats with wings' Dogs aren't the only animals that vie for best in show. Hundreds of breeds of pigeons compete in their own version of the Westminster show, strutting on long, thick legs or fluttering curly, lacy feathers in their bid to be best bird.
Birds cleaned of mysterious gray goo to return to shorelines A second batch of birds that have recovered after getting covered in a mysterious gray substance will be released back onto San Francisco Bay Area's shorelines.

Medicine & Health news

	Why do our photoreceptors respond to light by turning off? (Medical Xpress)—An enduring neurobiological mystery is why do vertebrate rods and cones shut down their transmitter release in response to a light stimulus. If that particular question is too broad, then consider a slight refinement: why do we use two kinds of hyperpolarizing detectors in our retina while invertebrates like flies use a single depolarizing photoreceptor instead? That might be something we could answer, if only our understanding of invertebrate phototransduction was as complete as that of our own. Fortunately, a theory which ties together some of the absent details has been conveniently supplied in a recent review article in Current Opinion in Neurobiology.
	The brain's social network: Nerve cells interact like friends on Facebook Neurons in the brain are wired like a social network, report researchers from Biozentrum, University of Basel. Each nerve cell has links with many others, but the strongest bonds form between the few cells most similar to each other. The results are published in the journal Nature.
	Engineers create smartphone accessory for rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases—HIV and syphilis—at point of care A team of researchers, led by Samuel K. Sia, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia Engineering, has developed a low-cost smartphone accessory that can perform a point-of-care test that simultaneously detects three infectious disease markers from a finger prick of blood in just 15 minutes. The device replicates, for the first time, all mechanical, optical, and electronic functions of a lab-based blood test. Specifically, it performs an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) without requiring any stored energy: all necessary power is drawn from the smartphone. It performs a triplexed immunoassay not currently available in a single test format: HIV antibody, treponemal-specific antibody for syphilis, and non-treponemal antibody for active syphilis infection.
New study details how cocaine really works in the brain, suggests possibile addiction treatment A research team led by the University of Colorado Boulder has discovered a mechanism in the brain that is key to making cocaine seem pleasurable, a finding that could lead to a drug treatment for fighting addiction.
	How eyes reveal the brain's focus Whether you're taking a test or walking your dog across a busy street, your ability to tune out irrelevant sights and sounds in the environment—or your openness to detecting potential dangers—is crucial for success and survival.
	Brain marker hints at depression, anxiety years later A car accident, the loss of a loved one and financial trouble are just a few of the myriad stressors we may encounter in our lifetimes. Some of us take it in stride, while others go on to develop anxiety or depression. How well will we deal with the inevitable lows of life?
Newly discovered protein has link to gestational diabetes For at least 40 years, scientists who study how the body metabolizes sugar have accepted one point: there are four enzymes that kick-start the body's process of getting energy from food.
	Scientists call for antibody 'bar code' system to follow Human Genome Project (Update) More than 100 researchers from around the world have collaborated to craft a request that could fundamentally alter how the antibodies used in research are identified, a project potentially on the scale of the now-completed Human Genome Project.
	Research on life expectancy in fruit flies opens up a new line of inquiry into longevity Some studies on the genetic roots of aging will need a second look after the discovery that a common lab chemical can extend the life span of female fruit flies by 68 percent.
	An extra protein gives naked mole rats more power to stop cancer A protein newly found in the naked mole rat may help explain its unique ability to ward off cancer.
	Potential pancreatic cancer treatment could increase life expectancy Pancreatic cancer cells are notorious for being protected by a fortress of tissue, making it difficult to deliver drugs to either shrink the tumor or stop its growth. Now researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have developed a device that could change all that: By using electric fields, the device can drive chemotherapy drugs directly into tumor tissue, preventing their growth and in some cases, shrinking them.
	Compound found in grapes, red wine may help prevent memory loss A compound found in common foods such as red grapes and peanuts may help prevent age-related decline in memory, according to new research published by a faculty member in the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.
	Healthy diet linked to lower risk of chronic lung disease Eating a diet rich in whole grains, polyunsaturated fats and nuts—and low in red and processed meat, refined grains and sugary drinks—is associated with a lower risk of chronic lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD), finds a study published in The BMJ this week.
	One in two people in UK will get cancer, study says One in two people will develop cancer at some point in their lives, according to the most accurate forecast to date from Cancer Research UK, and published in the British Journal of Cancer today.
Oxygen uptake in respiratory muscles differs between men and women during exercise Muscles necessary for breathing need a greater amount of oxygen in women than in men, according to a study published today in The Journal of Physiology.
	Study finds link between early menopause and CFS A newfound link between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and early menopause was reported online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). This link, as well as links with other gynecologic problems and with pelvic pain, may help explain why CFS is two to four times more common in women than in men and is most prevalent in women in their 40s. Staying alert to these problems may also help healthcare providers take better care of women who may be at risk for CFS, say the authors of this population-based, case-control study.
Politicians debate vaccines as US faces measles outbreak US President Barack Obama and American health authorities appealed to the public to vaccinate their children as the country faces an outbreak of measles due to some parents believing vaccines against deadly diseases are dangerous.
Novartis Japan facing penalty over drug side effects Japanese health authorities said Wednesday that they will soon make a decision on a possible penalty against the local unit of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis for failing to report drug side effects.
	Delay in funds may have helped Ebola spread, study says Delays by international donors in providing money promised to fight Ebola may have allowed the disease to spread, driving up the amount of the final bill, a study said Wednesday.
Try, try again: More apps joining anti-smoking arsenal You don't need a crystal ball to make this projection about the future: Ditching the cigarettes is - and will likely continue to be - the single most important thing you can do for your health.
Debate heats up over safety of electronic health records Department of Health and Human Services officials said Tuesday that the safety benefits of electronic health records far outweigh any potential problems, but critics say regulators are pushing health care providers to use them while downplaying the risks to patients.
	Tips provided for transitional care management code usage (HealthDay)—In an article published Dec. 18 in Medical Economics, information is provided on transitional care management (TCM) codes and how to implement a process to use these codes.
	Review: hormonal Rx not indicated as acne monotherapy (HealthDay)—Hormonal therapy is recommended for treatment of acne in patients who do not respond to standard therapies, according to a review published online Jan. 27 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
	58 million Americans exposed to secondhand smoke: CDC (HealthDay)—Although fewer Americans are smoking and more communities have smoke-free laws, 58 million nonsmokers are still being exposed to secondhand smoke, U.S. health officials said Tuesday.
Researchers question treatment of infertility with stem cells New studies by Swedish researchers at institutions including the University of Gothenburg and Karolinska Institute are questioning the notion that infertility can be treated with stem cells.
	Newborn foals may offer clues to autism Veterinary researchers at the University of California, Davis, are teaming up with their colleagues in human medicine to investigate a troubling disorder in newborn horses and are exploring possible connections to childhood autism. The common link, the researchers suggest, may be abnormal levels of naturally occurring neurosteroids.