ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Full-annual-cycle models track migratory bird populations throughout the year Posted: 04 Mar 2015 04:02 PM PST Many birds spend only a few months of the year in their breeding range before leaving to spend the winter in another region or even on another continent, and models that only make use of data from one season may not paint a complete picture. For this reason, researchers have written the first comprehensive review of the different types of full-annual-cycle modeling approaches available to ecologists.

Big box stores could ditch the grid, use natural gas fuel cells instead Posted: 04 Mar 2015 04:02 PM PST Natural gas powered solid oxide fuel cells, located at the point of use to produce electricity for facilities the size of big box stores, could provide economic and environmental benefits, with additional research, according to new study.

Mediterranean diet cuts heart disease risk by nearly half Posted: 04 Mar 2015 04:02 PM PST Adults who closely followed the Mediterranean diet were 47 percent less likely to develop heart disease over a 10-year period compared to similar adults who did not closely follow the diet, according to a new study.

Excavation reveals ancient town and burial complex in Diros Bay, Greece Posted: 04 Mar 2015 12:26 PM PST Recent research has uncovered the remains of an ancient town and burial complex that date to the Neolithic and Bronze Age. In addition to the Neolithic 'spooning' couple that has been highlighted in recent news articles, the team also uncovered several other burials and the remains of an ancient village that suggest the bay was an important center in ancient times.

New materials discovered to detect neutrons emitted by radioactive materials Posted: 04 Mar 2015 12:26 PM PST A new research paper reveals how specially prepared carbon foam can be used in the detection of neutrons emitted by radioactive materials -- a task of critical importance to homeland security, as well as industry and safety.

New research could lead to more efficient electrical energy storage Posted: 04 Mar 2015 12:26 PM PST Researchers have identified electrical charge-induced changes in the structure and bonding of graphitic carbon electrodes that may one day affect the way energy is stored. The research could lead to an improvement in the capacity and efficiency of electrical energy storage systems, such as batteries and supercapacitors, needed to meet the burgeoning demands of consumer, industrial and green technologies.

Metabolic path to improved biofuel production Posted: 04 Mar 2015 12:26 PM PST Researchers have found a way to increase the production of fuels and other chemicals from biomass fermented by yeast without the need of environmentally harsh pre-treatments or expensive enzyme cocktails.

Strength in numbers: First-ever quantum device that detects and corrects its own errors Posted: 04 Mar 2015 12:26 PM PST When scientists develop a full quantum computer, the world of computing will undergo a revolution of sophistication, speed and energy efficiency that will make even our beefiest conventional machines seem like Stone Age clunkers by comparison.

Galactic 'rain' explains why some galaxies are better at creating stars Posted: 04 Mar 2015 12:26 PM PST Some of the galaxies in our universe are veritable star nurseries. For example, our own Milky Way produces, on average, at least one new star every year. Others went barren years ago, now producing few if any new stars. Why that happens is a question that has dogged astronomers for years. But now, more than 20 years of research has culminated in what might be the answer to that elusive question.

Deadly frog fungus dates back to 1880s, studies find Posted: 04 Mar 2015 12:26 PM PST A pair of studies show that the deadly fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, responsible for the extinction of more than 200 amphibian species worldwide, has coexisted harmlessly with animals in Illinois and Korea for more than a century. The research will help biologists better understand the disease caused by Bd, chytridiomycosis, and the conditions under which it can be survived.

Using fruit flies to understand how we sense hot and cold Posted: 04 Mar 2015 11:15 AM PST Innately, we pull our hand away when we touch a hot pan on the stove, but little is known about how our brain processes temperature information. Scientists now have discovered how a fruit fly's brain represents temperature, mapping it neuron by neuron, which has implications for understanding the much more complex human brain and how it responds to sensory stimuli. The work represents the first comprehensive mapping of the brain circuit that processes temperature information in any animal.

Why isn't the universe as bright as it should be? Posted: 04 Mar 2015 11:15 AM PST A handful of new stars are born each year in the Milky Way, while many more blink on across the universe. But astronomers have observed that galaxies should be churning out millions more stars, based on the amount of interstellar gas available. This study explains why galaxies don't churn out as many stars as they should.

Direct evidence that drought-weakened Amazonian forests 'inhale less carbon' Posted: 04 Mar 2015 11:14 AM PST Direct evidence of the rate at which individual trees in the Amazonian basin 'inhale' carbon from the atmosphere during severe drought has been provided by an international research team. Researchers found that while the rate of photosynthesis was constant among trees on plots unaffected by drought, rates on the six drought-affected plots dropped significantly (as compared with before the 2010 drought). They also discovered that while the growth rates of drought-affected plots were unchanged, levels of tissue maintenance and the general health of trees were reduced.

Discovery of 2.8-million-year-old jaw sheds light on early humans Posted: 04 Mar 2015 11:14 AM PST For decades, scientists have been searching for African fossils documenting the earliest phases of the Homo lineage, but specimens recovered from the critical time interval between 3 and 2.5 million years ago have been frustratingly few and often poorly preserved. However, a fossil lower jaw found in the Ledi-Geraru research area, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia, pushes back evidence for the human genus -- Homo -- to 2.8 million years ago.

Strong genetic risk factor for MS discovered in family of five affected siblings Posted: 04 Mar 2015 11:14 AM PST A genetic variation has been discovered that, in women, significantly increases their risk of developing multiple sclerosis, scientists report. The variant occurs almost twice as often among women with MS as in women without the disease, making it "one of the strongest genetic risk factors for MS discovered to date,” said the study's senior author.

Change in Medicare fee linked to rise of vascular treatment Posted: 04 Mar 2015 11:14 AM PST Federal efforts to curb Medicare costs for unclogging blood vessels in the limbs slowed the growing use of the treatments, but also coincided with a marked increase in doctors using a more expensive approach, according to a recent analysis.

Planet 'reared' by four parent stars Posted: 04 Mar 2015 10:22 AM PST Growing up as a planet with more than one parent star has its challenges. Though the planets in our solar system circle just one star -- our sun -- other more distant planets, called exoplanets, can be reared in families with two or more stars. Researchers wanting to know more about the complex influences of multiple stars on planets have come up with two new case studies: a planet found to have three parents, and another with four.

Think twice about investing in own company Posted: 04 Mar 2015 10:09 AM PST Employees whose retirement plan is invested in stock of the company where they work do not pull out money as the firms approach financial distress, new research has found. This lack of action creates significant financial losses for employees, such as was the case with Enron and WorldCom, authors say.

Time management: Why we feel busier when close to reaching a goal Posted: 04 Mar 2015 10:09 AM PST Is there any worse time to be interrupted than right now? Regardless of what we're doing or the nature of the interruption, we often feel as if we have no time to spare at the moment. According to a new study, consumers feel busier when they are close to finishing a task or reaching a goal.

Infant gut bacteria and food sensitization: Associations in the first year of life Posted: 04 Mar 2015 10:09 AM PST New light has been shed on changes in intestinal bacteria of infants that can predict future development of food allergies or asthma. The research reveals that infants with a fewer number of different bacteria in their gut at three months of age are more likely to become sensitized to foods such as milk, egg or peanut by the time they are one year old.

X-ray imaging of a single virus in 3-D Posted: 04 Mar 2015 10:09 AM PST By imaging single viruses injected into the intense beam of an X-ray free-electron laser, researchers have determined the three-dimensional structure of the mimivirus. The technique could be applied to image other pathogenic viruses like HIV or influenza and, with further improvements, it may allow researchers to tackle smaller biomolecules like proteins. This could enable the study of many important biomolecules that cannot form crystals and thus cannot be investigated by X-ray crystallography.

Mechanism behind most common form of inherited Alzheimer's disease revealed Posted: 04 Mar 2015 10:09 AM PST For the first time, a study reveals exactly how mutations associated with the most common form of inherited Alzheimer's disease produce the disorder's devastating effects. The paper upends conventional thinking about the effects of Alzheimer's-associated mutations in the presenilin genes and provides an explanation for the failure of drugs designed to block presenilin activity.

Mental health soon after war-zone concussions predicts disability Posted: 04 Mar 2015 10:08 AM PST Evaluating military personnel with blast-related mild traumatic brain injuries, researchers have found that early symptoms of post-traumatic stress, such as anxiety, emotional numbness, flashbacks and irritability, are the strongest predictors of later disability. The results were surprising because mental health more closely correlated with disability than assessments typically made after concussions, such as tests of memory, thinking, balance, coordination and severity of headaches and dizziness, according to the study.

Advancing multiple approaches for characterizing permafrost microbes in a changing climate Posted: 04 Mar 2015 10:08 AM PST To better characterize the microbial activities in the thawing permafrost, scientists have reported on the application of multiple molecular technologies: "omics."

Dog DNA tests alone not enough for healthy pedigree, experts say Posted: 04 Mar 2015 09:41 AM PST Breeding dogs on the basis of a single genetic test carries risks and may not improve the health of pedigree lines, experts warn. Only a combined approach that makes use of DNA analysis, health screening schemes and pedigree information will significantly reduce the frequency of inherited diseases, according to a review of the practice.

Scientists question rush to build Nicaragua canal Posted: 04 Mar 2015 09:41 AM PST A consortium of environmental scientists has expressed strong concern about the impact of a controversial Central American canal across Nicaragua. The path of the Nicaragua Interoceanic Grand Canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans will cut through Lake Cocibolca (aka Lake Nicaragua), Central America's main freshwater reservoir and the largest tropical freshwater lake of the Americas; this plan will force the relocation of indigenous populations and impact a fragile ecosystem, including species at risk of extinction, they warn.

Treatment guidelines for pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma outlined Posted: 04 Mar 2015 09:41 AM PST A guideline has been issued that outlines the use of 3-D computed tomography (CT)-based radiation therapy planning and volumetric image guidance to more effectively treat pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma and to reduce the radiation dose to normal tissue, thus decreasing the risk of late side effects.

Older, white males with advanced bladder cancer at high risk for suicide Posted: 04 Mar 2015 09:41 AM PST Older, single white males with advanced bladder cancer have the highest suicide risk among those with other cancers of the male genitals and urinary system, researchers report. The review identified suicide in these patients as a public health dilemma that needs physician awareness, particularly in patients who are older, male, and have aggressive disease.

Insight into inflammatory bowel disease Posted: 04 Mar 2015 09:40 AM PST The development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) may be influenced through a protein in the gut leading to inflammation according to research. "These results provide further evidence to support the regulatory role of epithelial SOCS3 in intestinal health and suggest that the increased expression of SOCS3 observed in IBD may serve to perpetuate inflammation," authors state.

Taking madness out of March Madness Posted: 04 Mar 2015 09:40 AM PST A business professor takes the madness out of the month with his "Dance Card" Method for determining NCAA March Madness brackets, also known as "bracketology."

Making night vision, thermal imaging affordable Posted: 04 Mar 2015 09:40 AM PST Researchers have created an electronic device using CMOS technology that detects electromagnetic waves to create images at nearly 10 terahertz, which is the highest frequency for electronic devices. The device could make night vision and heat-based imaging affordable.

Genome replication may hold clues to cancer evolution Posted: 04 Mar 2015 09:40 AM PST The more copies of a genome a cell holds, the more adaptable those cells are, scientists have discovered. This may have implications for cancer's evolution and adaptation.

New models yield clearer picture of emissions' true costs Posted: 04 Mar 2015 08:04 AM PST New models calculate and compare the true costs of various fuels to health, climate and the environment. Viewed this way, a gallon of gas costs $3.80 more than the pump price. The social cost of a gallon of diesel is about $4.80 more than the pump price; the price of natural gas more than doubles; and coal-fired electricity more than quadruples. Solar and wind power, on the other hand, become cheaper than they initially seem.

Can exercise training prevent premature death in elderly? Posted: 04 Mar 2015 08:04 AM PST Generation 100 is the first and largest randomized clinical study evaluating the effect of regular exercise training on morbidity and mortality in elderly people. "Epidemiological studies suggest that exercise has a tremendous preventative effect on morbidity and premature death, but these findings need to be confirmed by randomized clinical trials," says an author.

Experiments support conductivity claims for microbial nanowires Posted: 04 Mar 2015 08:03 AM PST Scientific debate has been hot lately about whether microbial nanowires, the specialized electrical pili of the mud-dwelling anaerobic bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens, truly possess metallic-like conductivity as its discoverers claim. But now scientists say they have settled the dispute between theoretical and experimental scientists by devising a combination of new experiments and better theoretical modeling.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions with a more effective carbon capture method Posted: 04 Mar 2015 08:03 AM PST Trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants and various industries could play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the future. But current materials that can collect CO2 -- from smokestacks, for example -- have low capacities or require very high temperatures to work. Scientists are making progress toward a more efficient alternative that could help make carbon capture less energy intensive.

Energy-generating cloth could replace batteries in wearable devices Posted: 04 Mar 2015 08:03 AM PST From light-up shoes to smart watches, wearable electronics are gaining traction among consumers, but these gadgets' versatility is still held back by the stiff, short-lived batteries that are required. These limitations, however, could soon be overcome. Scientists report the first durable, flexible cloth that harnesses human motion to generate energy. It can also self-charge batteries or supercapacitors without an external power source and make new commercial and medical applications possible.

Traditional beliefs promote sustainability in West Africa Posted: 04 Mar 2015 08:02 AM PST Sacred forests and traditional beliefs are shaping sustainable farming practices in communities in West Africa, according to new research. Scientists carried out a unique 18-month study in Liberia, examining the traditional agriculture of the Loma people where farmers do not use industrial farming practices or artificial fertilizers. They found sacred forests and ancestral lands were valued more than short-term economic gain through increasing food production.

Pennies reveal new insights on nature of randomness Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:45 AM PST Researchers have developed an algorithm that creates truly disordered packings of pennies for the first time.

Twitter helps smokers kick the habit, study finds Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:45 AM PST When subjects in a smoking cessation program tweet each other regularly, they're more successful at kicking the habit, according to a study. Specifically, daily 'automessages' that encourage and direct the social media exchanges may be more effective than traditional social media interventions for quitting smoking.

Novel drug mechanism that fights brain cancer described by researchers Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:45 AM PST Researchers have developed and characterized a molecule that interferes with the internal regulation of cancer cells, causing them to self-destruct. The investigators performed a series of studies utilizing high-content analysis, which quantifies changes in living cells in response to a drug treatment. The lab focused on the effects of a patented small molecule, known as UCD38B, on four different human glioma cell lines.

Study sheds light on how malaria parasites grow exponentially Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:45 AM PST The mysterious process by which malaria-related parasites spread at explosive and deadly rates inside humans and other animals has been uncovered by researchers for the first time. As drug-resistant malaria threatens to become a major public health crisis, the findings may lead to a powerful new treatment for malaria-caused illnesses that kill more than 600,000 people a year.

Politics of inequality and the inequality of politics Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:45 AM PST Economic inequality is at historic highs. The wealthiest one percent own 40 percent of the nation's wealth. This staggering inequality raises the question, what are the psychological causes and effects of inequality?

Determining recipes for some of the world's oldest preserved beers Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:45 AM PST Some breweries have taken to resurrecting the flavors of ages past. Adventurous beer makers are extrapolating recipes from clues that archeologists have uncovered from old and even ancient brews found at historical sites. Now scientists have analyzed some of the oldest preserved beer samples from an 1840s' shipwreck to try to provide insight into how they were made.

Obesity is associated with brain's neurotransmitters Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:45 AM PST Researchers have revealed how obesity is associated with altered opioid neurotransmission in the brain. New research reveals how obesity is associated with altered functioning of brain's opioid system, which is intimately involved in generating pleasurable sensations. The researchers found that obesity was associated with significantly lowered number of opioid receptors in the brain. However, no changes were observed in the dopamine neurotransmitter system, which regulates motivational aspects of eating.

Retina protein that may help conquer blindness discovered Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:45 AM PST A protein in the retina that is crucial for vision has been discovered by researchers who report, for the first time, the key molecular mechanisms leading to visual degeneration and blindness. The research reveals events that may be harnessed for prevention, as well as to slow down progression of retinal degenerative diseases.

Kids and robots learn to write together Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:45 AM PST Who is the teacher: the student or the machine? By showing a robot how to write letters, children improve their writing skills and gain self-confidence.

How big data can be used to understand major events Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:43 AM PST With the most unpredictable UK general election looming in modern times, how can big data be used to understand how elections are covered by the media? New research has for the first time analyzed over 130,000 online news articles to find out how the 2012 US presidential election played out in the media.

Basis for cadmium toxicity uncovered Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:43 AM PST Research has uncovered how the metal cadmium, which is accumulating in the food chain, causes toxicity in living cells. "Cadmium is a very important industrial metal, but exposure to it results in accumulation in the food chain, leading to toxicity in animals and humans," says the project. "Exposure to cadmium can occur due to poor disposal of industrial or electronics waste, and also through cigarette smoke and ingestion of contaminated food. While the toxicity of cadmium has been known for a long time, how it causes toxicity and damages cells hasn't been understood."

Where you live could mean 'greener' alternatives do more harm than good Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:43 AM PST Engineers propose a new 600-ton threshold that could indicate when switching to 'low carbon' alternatives may actually increase emissions. Although regions may welcome "green" technology like electric vehicles, high-speed rail and geothermal heating, they aren't green if the electricity to power them creates even more carbon emissions than their oil-driven counterparts, researchers say.

Cause of tree-killing fungus uncovered: Extra genes Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:43 AM PST Forest scientists believe they've discovered the root cause of a deadly tree fungus: extra genes. The fungus, Mycosphaerella populorum, uses extra genes to produce a toxin that can cause fatal lesions on the leaves, stems and branches of poplar trees. The extra genes were found through genome sequencing, the mapping of an organism's DNA.

Function of an enzyme critical to male fertility described Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:43 AM PST Researchers have filled in details of how an enzyme, through interactions with a network of nearly two dozen other genes, protects the integrity of the germ line by giving rise to a class of RNA molecules that are essential to sperm development.

Oxytocin may enhance social function in psychiatric disorders Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:43 AM PST Inducing the release of brain oxytocin may be a viable therapeutic option for enhancing social function in psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia, researchers suggest. The oxytocin system is well-known for creating a bond between a mother and her newborn baby, and oxytocin is a lead drug candidate for treating social deficits in autism.

Amazon deforestation 'threshold' causes species loss to accelerate Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:42 AM PST One of the first studies to map the impact of deforestation on biodiversity across entire regions of the Amazon has found a clear 'threshold' for forest cover below which species loss becomes more rapid and widespread. By measuring the loss of a core tranche of dominant species of large and medium-sized mammals and birds, and using the results as a bellwether, the researchers found that for every 10% of forest loss, one to two major species are wiped out. This is until the threshold of 43% of forest cover is reached, beyond which the rate of biodiversity loss jumps from between two to up to eight major species gone per 10% of disappeared forest.

Marriages more likely to end in divorce when wives get sick Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:41 AM PST Countless couples have recited the words, ‘in sickness and in health’ on their wedding day with the intention of honoring those vows. But as it turns out, that may be easier said than done.

Simulating the potential spread of measles Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:41 AM PST To help the public better understand how measles can spread, a team of infectious disease computer modelers has launched a free, mobile-friendly tool that lets users simulate measles outbreaks in cities across the country.

Genetic data can help predict how pine forests will cope with climate change Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:41 AM PST Data from only a small number of gene variants can predict which maritime pine trees are most vulnerable to climate change, scientists report. The results will improve computer models designed to forecast where forests will grow as the climate changes, and promises to help forestry managers decide where to focus reforestation efforts. The results will also guide the choice of tree stocks.

Clinical trial for solid tumors with novel small molecule agent Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:40 AM PST Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey is offering a clinical trial examining the investigational treatment known as ONC201 in patients with solid tumors whose cancer no longer responds to standard therapy. Prior research on the study drug suggests that it may be capable of turning off proteins that maintain tumor growth and and may help kill cancer cells while sparing normal ones.

Hurricanes helped accelerate spread of lionfish Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:40 AM PST Just when you thought hurricanes couldn't get any scarier, think again. Their names roll of the tongue like a rogues' gallery: Floyd, Frances, Irene, Wilma and Andrew. But these aren't the names of notorious criminals; rather, they are just a few of the hurricanes since 1992 that have helped spread invasive marine species throughout the Florida Straits. Researchers have discovered that storms don't only have a dramatic impact on land; they have an equally dramatic effect on ocean currents, which helps the spread of marine invasive species throughout a region.

Men tend to be more narcissistic than women, study finds Posted: 04 Mar 2015 07:40 AM PST With three decades of data from more than 475,000 participants, a new study on narcissism reveals that men, on average, are more narcissistic than women.