ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Lifting the veil on a dark galaxy Posted: 06 Feb 2015 09:53 AM PST A cluster of young, pulsating stars discovered in the far side of the Milky Way may mark the location of a previously unseen dark-matter dominated dwarf galaxy hidden behind clouds of dust. A team used data collected by the ESO's VISTA to find four young stars approximately 300,000 light years away. These young stars are Cepheid variables, the most distant found close to the plane of the Milky Way.

We're all going to die; DNA strands on the end of our chromosomes hint when Posted: 06 Feb 2015 09:53 AM PST Scientists currently studying the gene mutations that cause people to have unnaturally short telomeres. Recent research finds those mutations are connected to both pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema.

Researchers reveal how hearing evolved Posted: 06 Feb 2015 09:52 AM PST Lungfish and salamanders can hear, despite not having an outer ear or tympanic middle ear. These early terrestrial vertebrates were probably also able to hear 300 million years ago, as shown in a new study.

Scandals not bad for business in the long term, study finds Posted: 06 Feb 2015 09:52 AM PST Scandals involving bosses of major firms have no long-term negative impact on share prices and can even lead to better performance, new research has found.

A picture is worth 1000 words, but how many emotions? Posted: 06 Feb 2015 09:52 AM PST Researchers have come up with a more accurate way than currently possible to train computers to be able to digest data that comes in the form of images and extract the emotions they convey.

Physicists working to understand how and why matter came about Posted: 06 Feb 2015 09:51 AM PST Physicists are engaged in a series of neutrino experiments, called NOvA, now under way at Fermilab to help answer how and why matter came about.

Precision growth of light-emitting nanowires Posted: 06 Feb 2015 08:17 AM PST A novel approach to growing nanowires promises a new means of control over their light-emitting and electronic properties. Researchers demonstrated a new growth technique that uses specially engineered catalysts. These catalysts have given scientists more options than ever in turning the color of light-emitting nanowires.

Nanoscale solution to big problem of overheating in microelectronic devices Posted: 06 Feb 2015 08:17 AM PST Currently, microelectronic device manufacturers must rely on simulations alone to understand the temperatures inside individual devices. Researchers have now developed a way to determine actual temperatures within these devices by using material within them as its own thermometer.

Ebola: New studies model a deadly epidemic Posted: 06 Feb 2015 08:17 AM PST Researchers are trying to better understand the epidemiology and control of Ebola Virus Disease in order to alleviate suffering and prevent future disease outbreaks from reaching the catastrophic proportions of the current crisis.

Another reason to drink wine: It could help you burn fat, study suggests Posted: 06 Feb 2015 08:17 AM PST Drinking red grape juice or wine -- in moderation -- could improve the health of overweight people by helping them burn fat better, a new study indicates. The findings suggest that consuming dark-colored grapes, whether eating them or drinking juice or wine, might help people better manage obesity and related metabolic disorders such as fatty liver.

Settling for 'Mr. Right Now' better than waiting for 'Mr. Right', shows model of digital organisms Posted: 06 Feb 2015 08:16 AM PST Evolutionary researchers have determined that settling for 'Mr. Okay' is a better evolutionary strategy than waiting for 'Mr. Perfect.' When studying the evolution of risk aversion using a computational model of digital organisms, researchers found that it is in our nature -- traced back to the earliest humans -- to take the safe bet when stakes are high, such as whether or not we will mate.

New study sheds light on cancer stem cell regulation Posted: 06 Feb 2015 08:16 AM PST Researchers identify signaling molecules in intestinal stem cells that can lead to tumors if left unregulated. The findings suggest a new approach to targeting intestinal cancers.

Astronomers breathe new life into venerable instrument Posted: 06 Feb 2015 08:16 AM PST Astronomers has revived the HPOL Spectropolarimeter, an instrument that measures polarized light from distant astronomical objects. HPOL began operating at the University of Wisconsin's Pine Bluff Observatory in 1989, but was retired in 2004 following equipment failures. The consortium relocated the instrument to the University of Toledo and upgraded several of its components. The new HPOL now operates at Ritter Observatory in Toledo, where it is obtaining higher-quality data than its predecessor.

Reining in the yeast tree of life Posted: 06 Feb 2015 08:16 AM PST Scientists are working to validate novel approaches to constructing a tree of life.

Novel form of experience-dependent plasticity in the adult brain revealed Posted: 06 Feb 2015 05:37 AM PST Scientists have shown an unprecedented degree of connectivity reorganization in newly-generated hippocampal neurons in response to experience, suggesting their direct contribution to the processing of complex information in the adult brain.

Aerial monitors shed light on reed die-back around Central Europe's largest lake Posted: 06 Feb 2015 04:12 AM PST Researchers have discovered a way to map 'reed die-back' using satellites and aircraft.

Why 'baking powder' doubles or triples efficiency of plastic solar cells Posted: 06 Feb 2015 04:12 AM PST The efficiency of plastic solar cells can be doubled or tripled if an extra solvent is added during the production process, comparable with the role of baking powder in dough mixture. Exactly how this works has been unclear for the last ten years. But now researchers have come up with the answer in a publication in Nature Communications. This new understanding will now enable focused development of plastic solar cells.

Ancient snow patches melting at record speed Posted: 06 Feb 2015 04:12 AM PST Norway is dotted with small glaciers and permanent snow patches that contain all sorts of archaeological treasures, from ancient shoes to 5000-year-old arrowheads. But climate change has turned up the temperature on these snowfields and they are vanishing at an astonishing rate.

Cow immune system inspires potential new therapies Posted: 06 Feb 2015 04:12 AM PST To help people with hormone deficiencies, scientists have developed a potential new therapy based on an unlikely model: immune molecules from cows.

After hospital discharge, deadly heart risks can remain for up to a year Posted: 06 Feb 2015 04:11 AM PST In the month following an older heart patient's hospital discharge, there is a one in five risk of rehospitalization or death, but little is known about how these risks change over time. A new study found that risks remain high for up to a year, but can be addressed with targeted care.

Nano-hydrogels that attack cancer cells Posted: 05 Feb 2015 11:11 AM PST Hydrogels are materials that are commonly used in everyday objects such as contact lenses or diapers, in order to control humidity. However, chemical engineers have now developed a new technology based on thermosensitive nanoparticles (nano-hydrogels) to use these materials in the field of biomedicine, as an alternative to achieve controlled release of anticancer drugs.

When scientists play with Lego: A new creative version of pinned insect manipulator Posted: 05 Feb 2015 09:31 AM PST Who said scientists are not creative? Biologists have proved such statements wrong with the invention of a creative, functional and most importantly quite cheap pinned insect manipulator made entirely of Lego pieces to help them face the challenges of mass digitization of museum specimens.

Survival of the fittest: Evolution continues despite low mortality and fertility rates in modern world Posted: 05 Feb 2015 09:30 AM PST Charles Darwin's theory on evolution still holds true despite lower mortality and fertility rates in the modern world, according to new research.

Closer look at flawed studies behind policies used to promote 'low-carbon' biofuels Posted: 05 Feb 2015 09:27 AM PST 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 researcher who reviewed more than 100 papers published over more than two decades.

Youth hockey brain imaging study suggests early marker for concussion damage Posted: 05 Feb 2015 08:18 AM PST As a pediatric neuropsychiatrist Dr. James Hudziak believes in the benefits of ice hockey and other sports for kids. Athletic activities help build organizational skills, improve motor and emotional control, reduce anxiety and boost confidence. Now, though, he is looking into the potential dangers of ice hockey for young athletes.

Acute psychological stress reduces ability to withstand physical pain Posted: 05 Feb 2015 08:18 AM PST A new study finds that acute psychosocial stress has a dramatically deleterious effect on the body's ability to modulate pain. The researchers found that although pain thresholds and pain tolerance seemed unaffected by stress, there was a significant increase in pain intensification and a decrease in pain inhibition capabilities.