Today's Science News
Thursday, July 24, 2014
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from universities, journals, and other organizations
DNA Mostly 'Junk?' Only 8.2 Percent of Human DNA Is 'Functional', Study Finds
July 24, 2014 — Only 8.2 percent of human DNA is likely to be doing something important -- is 'functional' -- say researchers. This figure is very different from one given in 2012, when some scientists ... full story
Leaf-Mining Insects Destroyed With the Dinosaurs, Others Quickly Appeared
July 24, 2014 — After the asteroid impact at the end of the Cretaceous period that triggered the dinosaurs' extinction and ushered in the Paleocene, leaf-mining insects in the western United States completely ... full story
Synchronization of North Atlantic, North Pacific Preceded Abrupt Warming, End of Ice Age
July 24, 2014 — Scientists have long been concerned that global warming may push Earth's climate system across a 'tipping point,' where rapid melting of ice and further warming may become irreversible ... full story
Hubble Finds Three Surprisingly Dry Exoplanets: 'Hot Jupiters' Had Only One-Tenth to One One-Thousandth the Amount of Water Predicted
July 24, 2014 — Astronomers have gone looking for water vapor in the atmospheres of three planets orbiting stars similar to the Sun -- and have come up nearly dry. The three planets, known as HD 189733b, HD 209458b, ... full story
Smarter Than a First-Grader? Crows Can Perform as Well as 7 To 10-Year-Olds on Cause-and-Effect Water Displacement Tasks
July 23, 2014 — In Aesop's fable about the crow and the pitcher, a thirsty bird happens upon a vessel of water, but when he tries to drink from it, he finds the water level out of his reach. Not strong enough ... full story
How to Power California With Wind, Water and Sun
July 24, 2014 — New research outlines the path to a possible future for California in which renewable energy creates a healthier environment, generates jobs and stabilizes energy ... full story
Pesticide Linked to Three Generations of Disease: Methoxychlor Causes Epigenetic Changes
July 24, 2014 — Researchers say ancestral exposures to the pesticide methoxychlor may lead to adult onset kidney disease, ovarian disease and obesity in future ... full story
No Returning to Eden: Researchers Explore How to Restore Species in a Changing World
July 24, 2014 — Reversing the increasing rate of global biodiversity losses may not be possible without embracing intensive, and sometimes controversial, forms of threatened species management, according to ... full story
A Reward Is Valued More If You Choose It Yourself: New Quirky Byproduct of Learning from Reward
July 24, 2014 — Many people value rewards they choose themselves more than rewards they merely receive, even when the rewards are actually equivalent. A new study provides evidence that this long-observed quirk of ... full story
New Mass Map of Distant Galaxy Cluster Is Most Precise Yet
July 24, 2014 — Astronomers have mapped the mass within a galaxy cluster more precisely than ever before. Created using observations from Hubble's Frontier Fields observing program, the map shows the amount and ... full story
Four-Billion-Year-Old Chemistry in Cells Today
July 24, 2014 — Parts of the primordial soup in which life arose have been maintained in our cells today according to scientists. Research has revealed how cells in plants, yeast and very likely also in animals ... full story
Gene Inhibitor, Salmon Fibrin Restore Function Lost in Spinal Cord Injury in Rodents
July 23, 2014 — A therapy combining salmon fibrin injections into the spinal cord and injections of a gene inhibitor into the brain restored voluntary motor function impaired by spinal cord injury, scientists have ... full story
Life Expectancy Gains Threatened as More Older Americans Suffer from Multiple Medical Conditions
July 23, 2014 — With nearly four in five older Americans living with multiple chronic medical conditions, a new study finds that the more ailments you have after retirement age, the shorter your life expectancy. The ... full story
Dog Jealousy: Study Suggests Primordial Origins for the 'Green-Eyed Monster'
July 23, 2014 — Dogs exhibit jealous behaviors. The first experimental test of jealousy in dogs supports the view that there may be a more basic form of jealousy, which evolved to protect social bonds from ... full story
3-D Image of Paleolithic Child's Skull Reveals Trauma, Brain Damage
July 23, 2014 — Three-dimensional imaging of a Paleolithic child's skull reveals potentially violent head trauma that likely lead to brain ... full story
- Our DNA Mostly 'Junk?' Only 8.2% Is 'Functional'
- Leaf-Mining Insects Destroyed With Dinosaurs
- Risk of Tipping Point for Abrupt Global Warming
- Hubble Finds Three Surprisingly Dry Exoplanets
- Are Crows Smarter Than a First-Grader?
- How to Power California With Wind, Water, Sun
- Pesticide Linked to 3 Generations of Disease
- Can Species Be Restored in a Changing World?
- Quirky Byproduct of Learning from Reward
- New Precise Mass Map of Distant Galaxy Cluster
- Four-Billion-Year-Old Chemistry in Cells Today
- Can Function Lost in Spinal Injury Be Restored?
- 4 in 5 Seniors: Multiple Chronic Health Issues
- Primordial Origins for Jealousy in Dogs
- 3-D Image of Paleolithic Child's Skull: Trauma
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last updated on 2014-07-24 at 4:28 pm EDT
Linking Microbial, Immune Environment in Semen to HIV Viral Load, Transmission
July 24, 2014 — HIV infection re-shapes the relationship between semen bacteria and immune factors which in turn affects viral load, suggesting that the semen microbiome plays a role in sexual transmission of HIV, ... full story
Atomic Structure of Key Muscle Component Revealed
July 24, 2014 — Adding to the growing fundamental understanding of the machinery of muscle cells, a group of biophysicists describe -- in minute detail -- how actin filaments are stabilized at one of their ends to ... full story
Protein Couple Controls Flow of Information Into Brain's Memory Center
July 24, 2014 — Neuroscientists have succeeded in providing new insights into how the brain works by analyzing tissue samples from mice to identify how two specific proteins, 'CKAMP44' and 'TARP Gamma-8', act upon ... full story
Joblessness Could Kill You, but Recessions Could Be Good for Your Health
July 24, 2014 — While previous studies of individuals have shown that employees who lose their jobs have a higher mortality rate, more comprehensive studies have shown, unexpectedly, that population mortality ... full story
Cancer: Treatment That Prevents Tumor Metastasis Identified in Animal Study
July 24, 2014 — Metastasis, the strategy adopted by tumor cells to transform into an aggressive form of cancer, are often associated with a gloomy prognosis. Managing to block the metastasis or, even better, prevent ... full story
Metastatic Brain Tumor Treatment Could Be on the Horizon With Use of SapC-DOPS
July 24, 2014 — A new study has provided hope that previously studied SapC-DOPS could be used for treatment of brain cancer that has spread. "These results support the potential of SapC-DOPS for the diagnosis and ... full story
Annual Financial Cost of COPD $36 Billion in U.S.: CDC Report
July 24, 2014 — A new report outlines the total and state-specific medical and absenteeism costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults in the United States, and lays out some projections to 2020. ... full story
Mechanism That Clears Excess of Protein Linked With Type 2 Diabetes
July 24, 2014 — In people who do not have Type 2 diabetes, autophagy prevents the accumulation of toxic forms of IAPP, researchers have found. In people with Type 2 diabetes, the process appears to not work ... full story
Natural Products from Plants Protect Skin During Cancer Radiotherapy
July 24, 2014 — Plant-derived natural product chemicals could offer protection to the skin from the harmful effects of gamma radiation during cancer radiotherapy, suggests ... full story
Background TV Can Be Bad for Kids
July 24, 2014 — Leaving the television on can be detrimental to children's learning and development, according to a new study. Researchers found that background television can divert a child’s attention from play ... full story
- HIV: Semen, Microbiome, and Transmission
- Atomic Structure of Key Muscle Component
- Protein Couple Controls Brain's Memory Center
- Recessions Could Be Good for Your Health?
- Treatment Prevents Tumor Metastasis in Mice
- Metastatic Brain Tumor Treatment Coming Soon?
- Annual Financial Cost of COPD: $36 Billion
- Clearing of Excess Protein Linked to Diabetes
- Plant Products Protect Skin During Radiotherapy
- Background TV Can Be Bad for Kids
Paracetamol No Better Than Placebo for Lower Back Pain
July 24, 2014 — Paracetamol is no better than placebo at speeding recovery from acute episodes of lower back pain or improving pain levels, function, sleep, or quality of life, according to the first large ... full story
Greater Odds of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Those With Military Service, Study Finds
July 23, 2014 — Men and women who have served in the military have a higher prevalence of adverse childhood events (ACEs), suggesting that enlistment may be a way to escape adversity for some. ACEs can result in ... full story
How Stress Hormones Promote Brain's Building of Negative Memories
July 23, 2014 — Scientists have discovered a key component to better understanding how traumatic memories may be strengthened in women. Their study's findings suggest that developing clinical treatments that could ... full story
Ketamine Can Be a Wonder Drug for ER Patients, Physicians
July 23, 2014 — For critically ill patients arriving at the emergency department, the drug ketamine can safely provide analgesia, sedation and amnesia for rapid, life-saving intubation, despite decades-old studies ... full story
Controlling Childbirth Pain Tied to Lower Depression Risk
July 23, 2014 — Controlling pain during childbirth and post delivery is linked to reduced risk of postpartum depression, says a perinatal psychiatrist, based on a new study. The study showed postpartum depression ... full story
Caffeine Intake May Worsen Menopausal Hot Flashes, Night Sweats
July 23, 2014 — An association between caffeine intake and more bothersome hot flashes and night sweats in postmenopausal women has been made by researchers. Approximately 85 percent of the U.S. population consumes ... full story
Dopamine Transporter: Stampede Supercomputer Used to Study Common Link Between Addiction, Neurological Disease
July 22, 2014 — The XSEDE-allocated Stampede supercomputer has been used to study the dopamine transporter. Stampede is ranked seventh on the Top 500 list of supercomputers. Its research links altered dopamine ... full story
In Asthma, It's Not Just What You Smell, but What You Think You Smell
July 22, 2014 — Simply believing that an odor is potentially harmful can increase airway inflammation in asthmatics for at least 24 hours following exposure, research shows. The findings highlight the role that ... full story
Potential Genetic Link Between Epilepsy, Neurodegenerative Disorders
July 22, 2014 — A potential link between epilepsy and neurodegenerative disorders has been uncovered by new research. "This is, to our knowledge, the first direct genetic evidence demonstrating that mutations in the ... full story
Extra Exercise Helps Depressed Smokers Kick the Habit Faster
July 22, 2014 — People diagnosed with depression need to step out for a cigarette twice as often as smokers who are not dealing with a mood disorder. And those who have the hardest time shaking off the habit may ... full story
- Paracetamol No Better for Lower Back Pain?
- Bad Childhood Experiences Among the Military?
- Stress Hormones Promote Negative Memories
- Ketamine: Wonder Drug for ER Patients, Docs
- Controlling Childbirth Pain: Lower Depression
- Caffeine May Worsen Hot Flashes, Night Sweats
- Supercomputer Studies Addiction, Neuro Disease
- Asthma: What You Think You Smell Matters
- Epilepsy, Neuro Disorders: Genetic Link?
- Exercise Helps Depressed Smokers Kick the Habit
Wireless Home Automation Systems Reveal More Than You Would Think About User Behavior
July 24, 2014 — Home automation systems that control domestic lighting, heating, window blinds or door locks offer opportunities for third parties to intrude on the privacy of the inhabitants and gain considerable ... full story
Age of Puberty in Girls Influenced by Which Parent 'Imprinted' Genes Are Inherited from
July 23, 2014 — The age at which girls reach sexual maturity is influenced by 'imprinted' genes, a small sub-set of genes whose activity differs depending on which parent passes on that gene, according to new ... full story
Strategy Proposed for Preventing Diseases of Aging
July 23, 2014 — Researchers argue that medicine focuses too much on fighting diseases individually instead of concentrating on interventions that prevent multiple chronic diseases and extend healthy lifespan. They ... full story
How Children Categorize Living Things
July 22, 2014 — "Name everything you can think of that is alive." How would a child respond to this question? Would his or her list be full of relatives, animals from movies and books, or perhaps neighborhood pets? ... full story
Study Reveals 'Unhappiest' Cities in the U.S.
July 22, 2014 — New research identifies the unhappiest cities in the U.S., but finds that some young people are still willing to relocate to them for a good job opportunity or lower housing prices. The analysis ... full story
High School Lacrosse Players at Risk for Concussions, Other Injuries, Study Finds
July 22, 2014 — High school players experienced 1,406 injuries over the four academic years from 2008 through 2012, a new study reports. The overall injury rate was 20 per 10,000 lacrosse competitions and practices. ... full story
Low Strength Brain Stimulation May Be Effective for Depression
July 22, 2014 — Brain stimulation treatments, like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), are often effective for the treatment of depression. Like antidepressant medications, ... full story
Computer Privacy: Share Button May Share Your Browsing History, Too
July 22, 2014 — One in 18 of the world’s top 100,000 websites track users without their consent using a previously undetected cookie-like tracking mechanism embedded in ‘share’ buttons. The researchers traced ... full story
Eating Probiotics Regularly May Improve Your Blood Pressure
July 21, 2014 — Probiotics -- a bacteria in yogurt and supplements -- appear to modestly lower blood pressure, according to a review of nine studies. The blood pressure-lowering effect from probiotics was greatest ... full story
Try, Try Again? Study Says No: Trying Harder Makes It More Difficult to Learn Some Aspects of Language, Neuroscientists Find
July 21, 2014 — Neuroscientists find that trying harder makes it more difficult to learn some aspects of language. When it comes to learning languages, adults and children have different strengths. Adults excel at ... full story
- Privacy Concerns With Wireless Home Automation
- Age of Puberty in Girls: 'Imprinted' Genes
- Strategy for Preventing Diseases of Aging
- How Children Categorize Living Things
- Study Reveals 'Unhappiest' Cities in the U.S.
- High School Lacrosse Players: Concussion Risk
- Brain Stimulation: Effective for Depression?
- Share Button May Share Browsing History, Too
- Eating Probiotics May Improve Blood Pressure
- Try, Try Again? Neuroscientists Say No
Fukushima Accident Underscores Need for U.S. to Seek out New Information About Nuclear Plant Hazards
July 24, 2014 — A new congressionally mandated report concludes that the overarching lesson learned from the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident is that nuclear plant licensees and their regulators must actively ... full story
Cost-Effective, Solvothermal Synthesis of Heteroatom (S or N)-Doped Graphene Developed
July 24, 2014 — A research team has developed cost-effective technology to synthesize sulfur-doped and nitrogen-doped graphenes which can be applied as high performance electrodes for secondary batteries and fuel ... full story
Dream Come True for Chemists? Creating Organic Zeolites
July 24, 2014 — Traditionally, zeolites have been derived from inorganic material like silicon or aluminum. For the past several years, one research team has focused on combining zeolites with organic polymers whose ... full story
Discovery Is Key to Metal Wear in Sliding Parts
July 24, 2014 — Researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism for wear in metals: a swirling, fluid-like microscopic behavior in a solid piece of metal sliding over another. The findings could be used ... full story
Chemist Develops X-Ray Vision for Quality Assurance
July 24, 2014 — A researcher has developed a method that uses X-rays for the rapid identification of substances present in an indeterminate powder. The new technique has the capacity to recognize advanced biological ... full story
Unleashing the Power of Quantum Dot Triplets
July 24, 2014 — Another step towards faster computers relies on three coherently coupled quantum dots used as quantum information units. Quantum computers have yet to materialize. Yet, scientists are making progress ... full story
Nano-Supercapacitors for Electric Cars
July 24, 2014 — Innovative nano-material based supercapacitors are set to bring mass market appeal a good step closer to the lukewarm public interest in Germany. This movement is currently being motivated by the ... full story
Formula Calculates Thickness of Bombproof Concrete
July 24, 2014 — A new type of steel-reinforced concrete protects buildings better from bomb attacks. Researchers have developed a formula to quickly calculate the concrete’s required thickness. The material will ... full story
Spinach Could Lead to Alternative Energy More Powerful Than Popeye
July 23, 2014 — Spinach gave Popeye super strength, but it also holds the promise of a different power for a group of scientists: the ability to convert sunlight into a clean, efficient alternative fuel. Physicists ... full story
The Birth of Topological Spintronics: New Material Combo Could Lead to More Efficient Computers
July 23, 2014 — The discovery of a new material combination that could lead to a more efficient approach to computer memory and logic is the first promising indication that it may be possible to build a practical ... full story
- Fukushima Accident and Nuclear Plant Hazards
- Advance for Batteries and Fuel Cells
- Dream Come True? Creating Organic Zeolites
- Discovery Is Key to Metal Wear in Sliding Parts
- X-Ray Vision for Quality Assurance
- Unleashing the Power of Quantum Dot Triplets
- Nano-Supercapacitors for Electric Cars
- Formula for Thickness of Bombproof Concrete
- Alternative Energy: Popeye Would Be Amazed
- The Birth of Topological Spintronics
Voyager Spacecraft Might Not Have Reached Interstellar Space
July 23, 2014 — In 2012, the Voyager mission team announced that the Voyager 1 spacecraft had passed into interstellar space, traveling further from Earth than any other humanmade object. But, in the nearly two ... full story
New Approach in Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence: Target Alien Polluters
July 23, 2014 — Humanity is on the threshold of being able to detect signs of alien life on other worlds. By studying exoplanet atmospheres, we can look for gases like oxygen and methane that only coexist if ... full story
Atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's Largest Moon
July 23, 2014 — An astronomer has published the results of the comparison of his model of Titan's atmosphere with the latest ... full story
Lives and Deaths of Sibling Stars
July 23, 2014 — In a new image from ESO, young stars huddle together against clouds of glowing gas and lanes of dust. The star cluster, NGC 3293, would have been just a cloud of gas and dust itself about ten million ... full story
Satellite Galaxies Put Astronomers in a Spin
July 23, 2014 — Astronomers have studied 380 galaxies and shown that their small satellite galaxies almost always move in rotating discs. However, such satellite galaxy discs are not predicted by current models of ... full story
NASA's Fermi Finds a 'Transformer' Pulsar
July 22, 2014 — In late June 2013, an exceptional binary containing a rapidly spinning neutron star underwent a dramatic change in behavior never before observed. The pulsar's radio beacon vanished, while at the ... full story
Hubble Traces Halo of a Galaxy More Accurately Than Ever Before: An in-Depth Look at Giant Elliptical Galaxy Centaurus A
July 22, 2014 — Astronomers have probed the extreme outskirts of the stunning elliptical galaxy Centaurus A. The galaxy's halo of stars has been found to extend much further from the galaxy's center than expected ... full story
Boosting the Force of Empty Space: Theorists Propose Way to Amplify Force of Vacuum Fluctuations
July 22, 2014 — Vacuum fluctuations may be among the most counter-intuitive phenomena of quantum physics. Theorists have now proposed a way to amplify their force. The researchers believe that their proposed ... full story
Massive Neutrinos and New Standard Cosmological Model: No Concordance Yet
July 22, 2014 — Neutrinos, also known as ‘ghost particles’ because they barely interact with other particles or their surroundings, are massless particles according to the standard model of particle physics. ... full story
Transiting Exoplanet With Longest Known Year: 704 Earth Days
July 21, 2014 — Astronomers have discovered a transiting exoplanet with the longest known year. Kepler-421b circles its star once every 704 days. In comparison, Mars orbits our Sun once every 780 days. Most of the ... full story
- Voyager May Not Have Reached Interstellar Space
- Searching for Extraterrestrial Polluters
- Atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's Largest Moon
- Lives and Deaths of Sibling Stars
- Satellite Galaxies Put Astronomers in a Spin
- NASA's Fermi Finds a 'Transformer' Pulsar
- Hubble Traces Halo of Giant Elliptical Galaxy
- Vacuum Fluctuations: The Force of Empty Space
- Massive Neutrinos and New Cosmological Model
- Transiting Exoplanet With Longest Known Year
Artificial Intelligence Identifies the Musical Progression of the Beatles
July 24, 2014 — Computer scientists have developed an artificial intelligence algorithm that can analyze and compare musical styles, which they have used to study the musical progression of the ... full story
Nearly 50 Years of Lemur, Other Primates Data Now Available Online
July 24, 2014 — A 48-year archive of life history data for the world's largest and most diverse collection of endangered primates is now digital and available online. The database allows visitors to view and ... full story
New Model Helps Explain How Provisions Promote or Reduce Wildlife Disease
July 23, 2014 — Scientists have long known that providing supplemental food for wildlife, or resource provisioning, can sometimes cause more harm than good. Ecologists have now developed a new mathematical model to ... full story
A Crystal Wedding in the Nanocosmos May Lead to Fast Multi-Functional Processing Units on Single Chip
July 23, 2014 — Researchers have succeeded in embedding nearly perfect semiconductor crystals into a silicon nanowire. With this new method of producing hybrid nanowires, very fast and multi-functional processing ... full story
Scientists Find Way to Maintain Quantum Entanglement in Amplified Signals
July 23, 2014 — Physicists have found a way to preserve quantum entanglement of particles passing through an amplifier and, conversely, when transmitting a signal over long ... full story
Can Machines Think? Misidentification of Humans as Machines in Turing Tests
July 23, 2014 — Pairs were set up and judges were tasked with identifying whether who they were talking to was human or a computer. Can machines be successful in 'being human' in real ... full story
Electronic Nose Could Aid in Rescue Missions
July 23, 2014 — Researchers have developed a device that allows multiple robotic platforms to follow the path of certain odors. A technology which could aid the search and rescue of people in case of natural ... full story
Quantum Leap in Lasers Brightens Future for Quantum Computing
July 22, 2014 — Scientists have devised a breakthrough laser that uses a single artificial atom to generate and emit particles of light. The laser may play a crucial role in the development of quantum computers, ... full story
'Comb on a Chip' Powers New Atomic Clock Design
July 22, 2014 — Researchers have demonstrated a novel design for a small atomic clock that is based on a chip-scale frequency comb, or a ... full story
A New Multi-Bit 'Spin' for Magnetic Random Access Memory Storage
July 22, 2014 — Interest in magnetic random access memory (MRAM) is escalating, thanks to demand for fast, low-cost, nonvolatile, low-consumption, secure memory devices. MRAM boasts all of these advantages as an ... full story
- Computer Shows Musical Progression of Beatles
- 50 Years of Primate Data Now Available Online
- How Provisions Promote, Reduce Wildlife Disease
- Chip Tech: A Crystal Wedding in the Nanocosmos
- Quantum Entanglement in Amplified Signals
- Misidentifying Humans as Machines in Turing Tests
- Electronic Nose Could Aid in Rescue Missions
- Quantum Computers: Quantum Leap in Lasers
- New Atomic Clock: 'Comb On a Chip'
- A New Multi-Bit 'Spin' for MRAM Storage
New Perspective on Agricultural Plastic, Debris Burning, and Air Quality
July 24, 2014 — To reduce fire hazard, wildland managers often utilize the silvicultural practice of mechanically cutting woody shrubs and suppressed trees. These cuttings and other post-logging debris are then ... full story
Corn and Soy Insecticides Similar to Nicotine Found Widespread in Midwest U.S. Rivers
July 24, 2014 — Insecticides similar to nicotine, known as neonicotinoids, were found commonly in streams throughout the Midwest, according to a new study. This is the first broad-scale investigation of ... full story
Key Molecule in Flies Identified That Adjusts Energy Use Under Starvation Conditions
July 24, 2014 — In the fly Drosophila melanogaster, p53 is activated in certain cells to adapt the metabolic response to nutrient deprivation, thus having a global effect on the organism, researchers show. The ... full story
Genome Analysis Helps in Breeding More Robust Cows
July 24, 2014 — Genome analysis of 234 bulls has put researchers on the trail of DNA variants which influence particular characteristics in breeding bulls. For example, two variants have proven responsible for ... full story
One Route to Malaria Drug Resistance Found
July 24, 2014 — Researchers have uncovered a way the malaria parasite becomes resistant to an investigational drug. The discovery also is relevant for other infectious diseases including bacterial infections and ... full story
Why Don't Genetically Identical Cells Behave Identically? Cellular Noise
July 24, 2014 — One researcher is like a mechanic for cells: he takes them apart to see how they function. He can tell you what part is like a gas pedal and which part is like the brakes. Now he’s can show us why ... full story
Vasculature of the Hive: How Honey Bees Stay Cool
July 23, 2014 — Honey bees, especially the young, are highly sensitive to temperature and to protect developing bees, adults work together to maintain temperatures within a narrow range. New research also supports ... full story
Sapronoses: Diseases of Another Kind, Caused by Pathogenic Microorganisms
July 23, 2014 — The drought that has the entire country in its grip is affecting more than the color of people's lawns. It may also be responsible for the proliferation of a heat-loving amoeba commonly found in warm ... full story
Bird 'Backpacks' Put Wood Thrush Migration on the Map
July 23, 2014 — Researchers have created the first migratory connectivity map produced for a songbird, using tracking from both breeding and winter sites. They were able to trace the route taken by wood thrushes ... full story
15-Year Analysis of Blue Whale Range Off California Finds Conflict With Shipping Lanes
July 23, 2014 — A comprehensive analysis of the movements of blue whales off the West Coast found that their favored feeding areas are bisected by heavily used shipping lanes, increasing the threat of injury and ... full story
- Agricultural Plastic, Debris Burning, and Air
- Insecticides Widespread in Midwest Rivers
- Key Molecule Adjusts Energy Use in Starvation
- Genome Analysis Helps Breed More Robust Cows
- Route to Malaria Drug Resistance Found
- Why Don't Identical Cells Behave Identically?
- Hive Vasculature: How Honey Bees Stay Cool
- Sapronoses: Diseases of Another Kind
- Bird 'Backpacks' Help Map Wood Thrush Migration
- Blue Whale Feeding Areas in Shipping Lanes
Major Impact of Climate Change on Antarctic Fur Seals
July 23, 2014 — Genetic analysis of Antarctic fur seals, alongside decades of in-depth monitoring, has provided unique insights into the effect of climate change on a population of top-predators. The findings show ... full story
How Much Magma Is Hiding Beneath Our Feet? Mysteries of Earth's Crust Pierced
July 23, 2014 — Molten rock, or magma, has a strong influence on our planet and its inhabitants, causing destructive volcanic eruptions and generating some of the giant mineral deposits. Our understanding of these ... full story
Calcification in Changing Oceans
July 23, 2014 — What do mollusks, starfish, and corals have in common? Aside from their shared marine habitat, they are all calcifiers -- organisms that use calcium from their environment to create hard carbonate ... full story
Research Charts Ecological Impact of Microbial Respiration in Oxygen-Starved Ocean
July 23, 2014 — A sulfur-oxidizing bacterial group called SUP05 will play an increasingly important role in carbon and nutrient cycling in the world's oceans as oxygen minimum zones expand, according to research. To ... full story
Researchers Work to Save Endangered New England Cottontail
July 23, 2014 — Scientists are working to restore New Hampshire and Maine's only native rabbit after new research based on genetic monitoring has found that in the last decade, cottontail populations in northern New ... full story
Alaska Frogs Reach Record Lows in Extreme Temperature Survival
July 22, 2014 — "Alaska wood frogs spend more time freezing and thawing outside than a steak does in your freezer, and the frog comes back to life in the spring in better shape than the steak," said the lead author ... full story
Safeguarding Belize's Barrier Reef With Conservation Drones
July 22, 2014 — Seeking to gain a high-tech edge over illegal fishers, the Government of Belize will use “eyes in the sky” to enforce fishing regulations in the biodiverse Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve and ... full story
Oso Disaster Had Its Roots in Earlier Landslides
July 22, 2014 — A new geological study concludes that the disastrous March 22 landslide that killed 43 people in the rural Washington state community of Oso involved the "remobilization" of a 2006 landslide on the ... full story
Vulnerability of Sharks as Collateral Damage in Commercial Fishing Shown by Study
July 22, 2014 — A new study that examined the survival rates of 12 different shark species when captured as unintentional bycatch in commercial longline fishing operations found large differences in survival rates ... full story
Radio Frequency ID Tags on Honey Bees Reveal Hive Dynamics
July 22, 2014 — Scientists attached radio-frequency identification tags to hundreds of individual honey bees and tracked them for several weeks. The effort yielded two discoveries: Some foraging bees are much busier ... full story
- Impact of Climate Change On Antarctic Fur Seals
- How Much Magma Is Hiding Beneath Our Feet?
- Calcification in Changing Oceans
- Microbial Respiration in Oxygen-Starved Ocean
- Saving Endangered New England Cottontail
- Alaska Frogs Survive Record Low Temps
- Safeguarding Belize's Barrier Reef With Drones
- Oso Disaster Had Its Roots in Earlier Landslides
- Vulnerability of Sharks in Commercial Fishing
- Hive Dynamics: Some Bees Really Are Busy Bees
Ancient Genetic Material from Caries Bacterium Obtained for the First Time
July 23, 2014 — Streptococcus mutans, one of the principal bacteria that cause dental caries, has increased the change in its genetic material over time, possibly coinciding with dietary change linked to the ... full story
Mammoth and Mastodon Behavior Was Less Roam, More Stay at Home
July 21, 2014 — Their scruffy beards weren't ironic, but there are reasons mammoths and mastodons could have been the hipsters of the Ice Age. According to new research, the famously fuzzy relatives of elephants ... full story
Science and Art Bring Back to Life 300-Million-Year-Old Specimens of a Primitive Reptile-Like Vertebrate
July 21, 2014 — Paleontologists have recreated the cranial structure of a 308-million-year-old lizard-like vertebrate that could be the earliest example of a reptile and explain the origin of all vertebrates that ... full story
Tooth Plaque Provides Unique Insights Into Our Prehistoric Ancestors' Diet
July 16, 2014 — An international team of researchers has found new evidence that our prehistoric ancestors had a detailed understanding of plants long before the development of agriculture. By extracting chemical ... full story
Brain of World's First Known Predators Discovered
July 16, 2014 — Scientists have found the fossilized remains of the brain of the world's earliest known predators, from a time when life teemed in the oceans but had not yet colonized the land. The discovery reveals ... full story
Animal Foraging Tactics Unchanged for 50 Million Years
July 15, 2014 — Animals have used the same technique to search for food that's in short supply for at least 50 million years, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed fossilized sea urchin trails from northern ... full story
Dodos and Spotted Green Pigeons Are Descendants of an Island Hopping Bird
July 15, 2014 — The mysterious spotted green pigeon was a relative of the dodo, according to scientists who have examined its genetic make-up. The authors say their results support a theory that both birds are ... full story
New Feathered Predatory Fossil Sheds Light on Dinosaur Flight
July 15, 2014 — A new raptorial dinosaur fossil with exceptionally long feathers has provided exciting insights into dinosaur flight. A new article asserts that the fossil has a long feathered tail that scientists ... full story
Little Too Late: Pathogenic Bacterium in 700-Year-Old Skeleton Identified
July 15, 2014 — Researchers have recovered a genome of the bacterium Brucella melitensis from a 700-year-old skeleton found in the ruins of a Medieval Italian village. Researchers used a technique called shotgun ... full story
Ötzi's Non-Human DNA: Opportunistic Pathogen Discovered in Iceman Tissue Biopsy
July 15, 2014 — Ötzi’s human genome was decoded from a hip bone sample taken from the 5,300 year old mummy. However the tiny sample weighing no more than 0.1 g provides so much more information. A team of ... full story
- Ancient Tooth Decay Bacteria: Changes
- Mammoths and Mastodons Liked to Stay Home
- 300-Million-Year-Old Reptile-Like Vertebrate
- Tooth Plaque Shows Prehistoric Ancestors' Diet
- Brain of World's First Known Predators
- Foraging Tactics Unchanged for 50 Million Years
- Green Pigeons, Dodos: From Island Hopping Bird
- Dinosaur Flight: New Feathered Predatory Fossil
- Pathogenic Bacterium in 700-Year-Old Skeleton
- Pathogen on Iceman: Ötzi's Non-Human DNA
Nano-Sized Chip Picks Up Scent of Explosives Molecules Better Than Dog's Nose
July 23, 2014 — A groundbreaking nanotechnology-inspired sensor picks up the scent of explosives molecules better than a detection dog's nose. The device is mobile, inexpensive, and highly accurate, detecting ... full story
Could Tailored Golf Balls Improve Golfing Performance?
July 23, 2014 — Elements such as trip wires, dimples and sand-grain roughness on the surface of a body have been shown to be effective in reducing drag on objects such as golf balls, which helps them fly ... full story
HIV, Malaria, and Tuberculosis: Success of the Millennium Shown in Most Comprehensive Study to Date
July 22, 2014 — Accelerated progress against the global burden of HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis (TB) has been made since 2000 when governments worldwide adopted Millennium Development Goal 6 to combat HIV/AIDS, ... full story
Innovative System Anticipates Driver Fatigue in the Vehicle to Prevent Accidents
July 22, 2014 — Scientists have created a devise integrated in smart materials capable of monitoring cardiac and respiratory rhythms in order to prevent drivers from falling ... full story
Real Price of Steak: Comparing Environmental Costs of Livestock-Based Foods
July 21, 2014 — New research reveals the comparative environmental costs of livestock-based foods. While we are told that eating beef is bad for the environment, do we know its real cost? Are the other animal or ... full story
New Clues About Source of Racial Health Disparities
July 21, 2014 — The use of specific ethnicities in public health messaging can have unexpected negative consequences. A first-of-its-kind study has found evidence that the persistent health disparities across race ... full story
Replacing Coal, Oil With Natural Gas Will Not Help Fight Global Warming, Expert Argues
July 21, 2014 — Both shale gas and conventional natural gas have a larger greenhouse gas footprint than do coal or oil, especially for the primary uses of residential and commercial heating. "While emissions of ... full story
Seals Forage at Offshore Wind Farms
July 21, 2014 — By using sophisticated GPS tracking to monitor seals' every movement, researchers have shown for the first time that some individual seals are repeatedly drawn to offshore wind farms and pipelines. ... full story
Sea Level Rising in Western Tropical Pacific Anthropogenic as Result of Human Activity, Study Concludes
July 20, 2014 — Sea levels likely will continue to rise in the tropical Pacific Ocean off the coasts of the Philippines and northeastern Australia as humans continue to alter the climate, a study concludes. The ... full story
Rate of HIV Diagnosis in U.S. Examined in Study
July 19, 2014 — The annual HIV diagnosis rate in the U.S. decreased more than 30 percent from 2002-2011, with declines observed in several key populations, although increases were found among certain age groups of ... full story
- Nano-Sized Chip Picks Up Scent of Explosives
- Tailored Dimples On Golf Balls for Great Shots
- Success of Millennium: AIDS, TB, Malaria
- Innovative System Anticipates Driver Fatigue
- Environmental Costs of Livestock-Based Foods
- Racial Health Disparities Source: New Clues
- Global Warming: Natural Gas Not the Answer?
- Seals Forage at Offshore Wind Farms
- Sea Rising in Western Pacific: Human Activity
- Rate of HIV Diagnosis in U.S. Examined in Study
Powerful New Source of Up-to-Date Information on Economic Activity
July 10, 2014 — Researchers have developed a new data infrastructure for measuring economic activity. The infrastructure uses aggregated and de-identified data on transactions and account balances from Check, a ... full story
Computer Security: 'Melbourne Shuffle' Secures Data in the Cloud
July 10, 2014 — Encryption might not be enough for all that data stored in the cloud. Usage patterns -- which files are accessed and when -- can give away secrets as well. Computer scientists have developed an ... full story
Neuroeconomists Confirm Warren Buffett's Wisdom: Brain Research Suggests an Early Warning Signal Tips Off Smart Traders
July 7, 2014 — Investment magnate Warren Buffett has famously suggested that investors should try to 'be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy only when others are fearful.' That turns out to be excellent ... full story
Putting a Price Tag on the 2 Degree Celsius Climate Target
July 2, 2014 — Addressing climate change will require substantial new investment in low-carbon energy and energy efficiency -- but no more than what is currently spent on today's fossil-dominated energy system, ... full story
Oil Palm Plantations Threaten Water Quality, Scientists Say
June 30, 2014 — Indonesia pays a price for a lucrative crop used in many household products. Palm plantations damage freshwater streams that supply drinking water to millions of people. Found in thousands of ... full story
Are You Seen as a Jerk at Work? Many People Are Oblivious to How They Come Across to Counterparts and Colleagues
June 30, 2014 — New research shows that many people seen by others as under-assertive or over-assertive think they're appropriately assertive. The study also reveals that people seen as getting assertiveness right ... full story
Back Away, Please: Humans Tend to Fear Things Approaching, Even If Non-Threatening
June 23, 2014 — We still have negative feelings about things that approach us -- even if they objectively are not threatening, according to new research. Though we modern humans don't really consider such fear, it ... full story
New Research Proves Gender Bias Extraordinarily Prevalent in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Fields
June 23, 2014 — With everyone from the federal government to corporate America working to encourage more women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math fields, you would think the doors would ... full story
Android Security Weaknesses Caused by Performance Design Identified
June 19, 2014 — Researchers have identified a weakness in one of Android’s security features. The research identifies an Android performance feature that weakens a software protection called Address Space Layout ... full story
Crucial Security Problem in Google Play: Thousands of Secret Keys Found in Android Apps
June 18, 2014 — Researchers have discovered a crucial security problem in Google Play, the official Android app store. The study is the first to make a large-scale measurement of the huge marketplace, using ... full story
- New Source of Information On Economic Activity
- 'Melbourne Shuffle' Secures Data in the Cloud
- Neuroeconomists Confirm Warren Buffett's Wisdom
- Putting a Price Tag On Climate Target
- Oil Palm Plantations Threaten Water Quality
- Are You Seen as a Jerk at Work?
- Humans Tend to Fear Things Approaching
- Huge Gender Bias in STEM Careers
- Android Security Weaknesses Identified
- Thousands of Secret Keys Found in Android Apps
Philosopher Uses Game Theory to Understand How Words, Actions Acquire Meaning
July 21, 2014 — Why does the word "dog" have meaning? If you say "dog" to a friend, why does your friend understand you? A philosopher aims to address these types of questions in his latest research, which focuses ... full story
Brain Waves Show Learning to Read Does Not End in 4th Grade, Contrary to Popular Theory
July 21, 2014 — Teachers-in-training have long been taught that fourth grade is when students stop learning to read and start reading to learn. But a new study tested the theory by analyzing brain waves and found ... full story
Large Twin Study Suggests That Language Delay Due More to Nature Than Nurture
July 21, 2014 — A study of 473 sets of twins followed since birth found twins have twice the rate of language delay as do single-born children. Moreover, identical twins have greater rates of language delay than do ... full story
Months Before Their First Words, Babies' Brains Rehearse Speech Mechanics
July 14, 2014 — New research in 7- and 11-month-old infants shows that speech sounds stimulate areas of the brain that coordinate and plan motor movements for speech. The study suggests that baby brains start laying ... full story
Want a Higher GPA in College? Join a Gym
July 10, 2014 — For those students looking to bump up their grade point averages during college, the answer may not be spending more time in a library or study hall, but in a gym. New research shows that students ... full story
Same Genes Drive Mathematics and Reading Ability
July 8, 2014 — About half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits. While ... full story
Working Memory Is Key to Early Academic Achievement
July 8, 2014 — Working memory in children is linked strongly to reading and academic achievement, a new study has shown. Moreover, this finding holds true regardless of socio-economic status. This suggests that ... full story
3-D Printer to Aid the Visually Impaired Students in Their Educational Endeavors
July 2, 2014 — New technology has been developed to make tactile objects with ease thanks to the convergence technology of 3-D printing and 3-D thermal reflow treatment, which can be denoted as the revolution in ... full story
Learn Dutch in Your Sleep: Listening to Lessons While Sleeping Reinforces Memory
June 30, 2014 — When you have learned words in another language, it may be worth listening to them again in your sleep. A study has now shown that this method reinforces memory. "Our method is easy to use in daily ... full story
The Secrets of Children's Chatter: Research Shows Boys and Girls Learn Language Differently
June 27, 2014 — Experts believe language uses both a mental dictionary and a mental grammar. The mental ‘dictionary’ stores sounds, words and common phrases, while mental ‘grammar’ involves the real-time ... full story
- Game Theory: How Words, Actions Acquire Meaning
- Learning to Read Does Not End in 4th Grade
- Language Delay Due More to Nature Than Nurture
- Before First Words, Babies' Brains Rehearse
- Want a Higher GPA in College? Join a Gym
- Same Genes Drive Maths and Reading Ability
- Working Memory Is Key to Early Achievement
- 3-D Printer to Aid Visually Impaired Students
- Learn Dutch in Your Sleep
- Boys and Girls Learn Language Differently
