Today's Science News
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Featured Research
from universities, journals, and other organizations
'Dressed' Laser Aimed at Clouds May Be Key to Inducing Rain, Lightning
Apr. 18, 2014 — The adage "Everyone complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it" may one day be obsolete if researchers further develop a new technique to aim a high-energy laser beam ... full story
Impact Glass from Asteroids and Comets Stores Biodata for Millions of Years
Apr. 18, 2014 — Bits of plant life encapsulated in molten glass by asteroid and comet impacts millions of years ago give geologists information about climate and life forms on the ancient Earth. Scientists exploring ... full story
First Potentially Habitable Earth-Sized Planet Confirmed by Gemini and Keck Observatories
Apr. 17, 2014 — The first Earth-sized exoplanet orbiting within the habitable zone of another star has been confirmed by observations with both the W. M. Keck Observatory and the Gemini Observatory. The initial ... full story
Fear of the Cuckoo Mafia: In Fear of Retaliation, Birds Accept and Raise Brood Parasites' Young
Apr. 17, 2014 — If a restaurant owner fails to pay the 'protection money' demanded of him by the mob, he can expect his premises to be trashed. Warnings like these are seldom required, however, as fear of ... full story
There's Something Ancient in the Icebox: Three-Million-Year-Old Landscape Beneath Greenland Ice Sheet
Apr. 17, 2014 — Scientists were greatly surprised to discover an ancient tundra landscape preserved under the Greenland Ice Sheet, below two miles of ice. This finding provides strong evidence that the ice sheet has ... full story
Researchers Rethink 'Natural' Habitat for Wildlife
Apr. 18, 2014 — Protecting wildlife while feeding a world population predicted to reach nine billion by 2050 will require a holistic approach to conservation that considers human-altered landscapes such as farmland, ... full story
Finding Turns Neuroanatomy on Its Head: Researchers Present New View of Myelin
Apr. 18, 2014 — Neuroscientists have made a discovery that turns 160 years of neuroanatomy on its head. Myelin, the electrical insulating material long known to be essential for the fast transmission of impulses ... full story
ADHD: Scientists Discover Brain's Anti-Distraction System
Apr. 18, 2014 — Psychologists have made a brain-related discovery that could revolutionize doctors' perception and treatment of attention-deficit disorders. This discovery opens up the possibility that ... full story
Gecko-Like Adhesives Now Useful for Real World Surfaces
Apr. 18, 2014 — The ability to stick objects to a wide range of surfaces such as drywall, wood, metal and glass with a single adhesive has been the elusive goal of many research teams across the world, but now a ... full story
Air Temperature Influenced African Glacial Movements at Height of Last Ice Age
Apr. 16, 2014 — Changes in air temperature, not precipitation, drove the expansion and contraction of glaciers in Africa's Rwenzori Mountains at the height of the last ice age, according to research. The ... full story
Bright Points in Sun's Atmosphere Mark Patterns Deep in Its Interior
Apr. 17, 2014 — Like a balloon bobbing along in the air while tied to a child's hand, a tracer has been found in the sun's atmosphere to help track the flow of material coursing underneath the sun's ... full story
Vitamin B3 Might Have Been Made in Space, Delivered to Earth by Meteorites
Apr. 17, 2014 — Ancient Earth might have had an extraterrestrial supply of vitamin B3 delivered by carbon-rich meteorites, according to a new analysis. The result supports a theory that the origin of life may have ... full story
Our Brains Are Hardwired for Language
Apr. 17, 2014 — People blog, they don't lbog, and they schmooze, not mshooze. But why is this? Why are human languages so constrained? Can such restrictions unveil the basis of the uniquely human capacity for ... full story
Gene Variant Increases Risk of Colorectal Cancer from Eating Processed Meat
Apr. 17, 2014 — A common genetic variant that affects one in three people appears to significantly increase the risk of colorectal cancer from the consumption of processed meat, according to a new ... full story
People of Color Live in Neighborhoods With More Air Pollution Than Whites, Groundbreaking U.S. Study Shows
Apr. 15, 2014 — A first-of-its-kind study has found that on average in the U.S., people of color are exposed to 38 percent higher levels of nitrogen dioxide outdoor air pollution compared to white people. The health ... full story
- Laser the Clouds to Make Rain, Lightning?
- Impact Glass Stores Biodata Millions of Years
- First 'Habitable' Earth-Sized Planet Confirmed
- Fear of Cuckoo Mafia: Birds Raise Others' Young
- 3-Million-Year-Old Landscape Preserved
- Rethinking 'Natural' Habitat for Wildlife
- Finding Turns Neuroanatomy On Its Head
- Brain's Anti-Distraction System Discovered
- Gecko-Like Adhesive Now Useful in Real World
- Ice Age: Air Temps Influenced African Glaciers
- Bright Points On Sun Reflect Hidden Interior
- Vitamin B3 Delivered to Earth by Meteorites?
- Our Brains Are Hardwired for Language
- Gene Variant Ups Cancer Risk from Processed Meat
- People of Color Living With More Air Pollution
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last updated on 2014-04-19 at 10:53 pm EDT
Counterfeit Contraceptives Found in South America
Apr. 18, 2014 — A survey of emergency contraceptive pills in Peru found that 28 percent of the batches studied were either of substandard quality or falsified. Many pills released the active ingredient too slowly. ... full story
MRI, on a Molecular Scale
Apr. 18, 2014 — A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that can produce nano-scale images, and may one day allow researchers to peer into the atomic structure of individual molecules, has been developed by ... full story
Proteins Conspire to Make Breast Cancer Cells Resistant to Drug Treatment
Apr. 18, 2014 — The interaction between two proteins called BCAR1 and BCAR3 is responsible for resistance to antiestrogen drugs, paving the way for improved diagnostic and treatment strategies. “Drug resistance is ... full story
Future Heat Waves Pose Risk for Population of Greater London
Apr. 18, 2014 — The effects of future heat waves on people living in Greater London in 2050 has been modeled in a study, which concludes that the risk of heat-related deaths could be significantly reduced if ... full story
Better Way to Deal With Bad Memories Suggested
Apr. 18, 2014 — A simple and effective emotion-regulation strategy that has neurologically and behaviorally been proven to lessen the emotional impact of personal negative memories, researchers have shown. ... full story
Innovative Strategy to Facilitate Organ Repair
Apr. 18, 2014 — A significant breakthrough could revolutionize surgical practice and regenerative medicine. Researchers have demonstrated that the principle of adhesion by aqueous solutions of nanoparticles can be ... full story
Chronic Inflammation Linked to 'High-Grade' Prostate Cancer
Apr. 18, 2014 — Men who show signs of chronic inflammation in non-cancerous prostate tissue may have nearly twice the risk of actually having prostate cancer than those with no inflammation, according to results of ... full story
Impact of Childhood Bullying Still Evident After 40 Years
Apr. 17, 2014 — The negative social, physical and mental health effects of childhood bullying are still evident nearly 40 years later, according to new research. The study is the first to look at the effects of ... full story
Multitarget TB Drug Could Treat Other Diseases, Evade Resistance
Apr. 17, 2014 — A drug under clinical trials to treat tuberculosis could be the basis for a class of broad-spectrum drugs that act against various bacteria, fungal infections and parasites, yet evade resistance, ... full story
Target for Treating Dengue Fever Discovered
Apr. 17, 2014 — New research may help scientists develop treatments or vaccines for dengue fever, West Nile virus, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and other disease-causing flaviviruses. More than 40 percent of ... full story
- Counterfeit Contraceptives in South America
- MRI, On a Molecular Scale
- Breast Cancer Cells Resistant to Treatment: How?
- Future Heat Waves: Risk for Greater London
- Better Way to Deal With Bad Memories
- Innovative Strategy to Facilitate Organ Repair
- Chronic Inflammation Linked to Prostate Cancer
- Childhood Bullying Effects Evident After 40 Years
- Multitarget TB Drug May Treat Other Diseases Too
- Target for Treating Dengue Fever Discovered
Proteomics Discovers Link Between Muscle Damage and Cerebral Malaria
Apr. 17, 2014 — Malaria-related complications remain a major cause of death for children in many parts of the world. Why some children develop these complications while others don't is still not understood. ... full story
Sporting Latest Tech Toy Can Make You Seem More Like a Leader
Apr. 17, 2014 — If you want to be perceived as a leader, new research suggests investing in the latest technological gadgets is the way to go. "Familiarity with and usage of new high-tech products appears to be a ... full story
Inhibited Children Become Anxious Adults: Examining the Causes and Effects of Early Shyness
Apr. 17, 2014 — Three little girls sit together in a room, playing with the toys surrounding them. One of the girls -- "Emma" -- has clearly taken charge of the group, and the others happily go along with her. A ... full story
Is Parkinson's an Autoimmune Disease?
Apr. 17, 2014 — The cause of neuronal death in Parkinson's disease is still unknown, but a new study proposes that neurons may be mistaken for foreign invaders and killed by the person's own immune system, similar ... full story
Loud Talking, Horseplay in Car Results in More Serious Incidents for Teen Drivers
Apr. 17, 2014 — Adolescent drivers are often distracted by technology while they are driving, but loud conversations and horseplay between passengers appear more likely to result in a dangerous incident, according ... full story
Connecting Sleep Deficits Among Young Fruit Flies to Disruption in Mating Later in Life
Apr. 17, 2014 — Mom always said you need your sleep, and it turns out, she was right. According to a new study, the lack of sleep in young fruit flies profoundly diminishes their ability to do one thing they do ... full story
Boosting Depression-Causing Mechanisms in Brain Increases Resilience, Surprisingly
Apr. 17, 2014 — New research uncovers a conceptually novel approach to treating depression. Instead of dampening neuron firing found with stress-induced depression, researchers demonstrated for the first time that ... full story
New Cause of Brain Bleeding Immediately After Stroke Identified
Apr. 17, 2014 — By discovering a new mechanism that allows blood to enter the brain immediately after a stroke, researchers have opened the door to new therapies that may limit or prevent stroke-induced brain ... full story
How Vision Makes Sure That Little Fish Do Not Get Carried Away
Apr. 17, 2014 — Our eyes not only enable us to recognize objects, they also provide us with a continuous stream of information about our own movements. The world glides by us and leaves a characteristic motion trace ... full story
Discovery Could Lead to Novel Therapies for Fragile X Syndrome
Apr. 17, 2014 — Scientists studying the most common form of inherited mental disability -- a genetic disease called 'Fragile X syndrome' -- have uncovered new details about the cellular processes responsible for the ... full story
- Link Between Muscle Damage and Cerebral Malaria
- Latest Tech Toy Can Make You Seem Like a Leader
- Inhibited Children Become Anxious Adults
- Is Parkinson's an Autoimmune Disease?
- Serious Teen Accidents from Horseplay in Car
- Flies: Sleep Deficit Linked to Mating Problems?
- New Antidepressant Approach: Natural Resilence
- Cause of Brain Bleeding Immediately After Stroke
- Neurons Help Fish Visualize, Process Motion
- Novel Therapies for Fragile X Syndrome Near?
Fish Consumption Advisories for Expecting Mothers Fail to Cover All Types of Contaminants
Apr. 17, 2014 — Fish consumption advisories for expecting mothers are ineffective in reducing infant exposure to contaminants like persistent organic pollutants. The researchers' model estimates that women who stop ... full story
'I Spy' Used to Show Spoken Language Helps Direct Children's Eyes
Apr. 17, 2014 — Children spot objects more quickly when prompted by words than if they are only prompted by images, cognitive scientists have demonstrated. Spoken language taps into children's cognitive system, ... full story
Distracted Driving Among Teens Threatens Public Health and Safety
Apr. 17, 2014 — Motor vehicle crashes rank as the leading cause of teen deaths and in 2008, 16% of all distraction-related fatal automobile crashes involved drivers under 20 years of age. These grim statistics, ... full story
Changing Where a Baby Is Held Immediately After Birth Could Lead to Improved Uptake of Procedure That Reduces Infant Iron Deficiency
Apr. 16, 2014 — Changing where a newborn baby is held before its umbilical cord is clamped could lead to improved uptake in hospitals of delayed cord clamping, leading to a decreased risk of iron deficiency in ... full story
Bacteria Survive Longer in Contact Lens Cleaning Solution Than Previously Thought, Study Shows
Apr. 16, 2014 — Each year in the UK, bacterial infections cause around 6,000 cases of a severe eye condition known as microbial keratitis – an inflammation and ulceration of the cornea that can lead to loss of ... full story
Surprising Consequences of Banning Chocolate Milk
Apr. 16, 2014 — Eliminating chocolate milk from elementary schools decreased total milk sales by 10 percent, and increased milk waste by 29 percent, a study has shown. Additionally, the ban may have been a factor in ... full story
Off-Season Doesn't Allow Brain to Recover from Football Hits, Study Says
Apr. 16, 2014 — Six months off may not be long enough for the brains of football players to completely heal after a single season, putting them at even greater risk of head injury the next season. "I don't want to ... full story
In Old Age, Lack of Emotion, Interest May Signal Brain Is Shrinking
Apr. 16, 2014 — Older people who have apathy but not depression may have smaller brain volumes than those without apathy, according to a new study. Apathy is a lack of interest or ... full story
How Smells Stick to Your Memories: Your Nose Can Be a Pathfinder
Apr. 16, 2014 — Waves in your brain make smells stick to your memories and inner maps. Researchers have recently discovered the process behind this phenomenon. The brain, it turns out, connects smells to memories ... full story
Shade Grown Coffee Shrinking as a Proportion of Global Coffee Production
Apr. 16, 2014 — Over the past couple of decades, global coffee production has been shifting towards a more intensive, less environmentally friendly style, a new study has found. That's pretty surprising if you live ... full story
- Pregnancy: Fish Consumption, Harm to Infants?
- Spoken Language Helps Direct Children's Eyes
- Distracted Driving Among Teens Threatens Public
- How You Hold Newborn Affects Iron Uptake: Study
- Bacteria Can Survive On Contact Lenses
- Surprising Results of Banning Chocolate Milk
- Football: Off-Season Doesn't Allow Brain Recovery
- Old Age Lack of Emotion: Brain Shrinking?
- How Smells Stick to Your Memories
- Global Coffee Trends: Bad for Environment?
SpaceX-3 Launches Science Cargo to International Space Station
Apr. 18, 2014 — A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft full of NASA cargo, experiments and equipment blazed into orbit Friday, April 18, aboard the company's Falcon 9 rocket. The astronauts aboard the International Space ... full story
'Exotic' Material Is Like a Switch When Super Thin
Apr. 18, 2014 — Researchers have shown how to switch a particular transition metal oxide, a lanthanum nickelate, from a metal to an insulator by making the material less than a nanometer thick. Ever-shrinking ... full story
Under Some LED Bulbs Whites Aren't 'Whiter Than White'
Apr. 18, 2014 — For years, companies have been adding whiteners to laundry detergent, paints, plastics, paper and fabrics to make whites look 'whiter than white,' but now, with a switch away from incandescent and ... full story
Impurity Size Affects Performance of Emerging Superconductive Material
Apr. 18, 2014 — Impurities can hurt performance -- or possibly provide benefits -- in a key superconductive material that is expected to find use in a host of applications, including future particle colliders. The ... full story
Better Thermal-Imaging Lens from Waste Sulfur
Apr. 17, 2014 — A new chemical process can transform waste sulfur into lightweight plastic lenses that have a high refractive index and are transparent to mid-range infrared light. The lenses may have applications ... full story
Novel Stapled Peptide Nanoparticle Combination Prevents RSV Infection, Study Finds
Apr. 17, 2014 — A combination of advanced technologies may lead to a therapy to prevent or treat respiratory syncytial virus, a potentially lethal respiratory infection affecting infants, young children and the ... full story
Building 'Smart' Cell-Based Therapies
Apr. 17, 2014 — A technology for engineering human cells as therapies has been developed by scientists. The the technology becomes activated only in diseased tissues. It sits on the surface of a cell and can be ... full story
Thinnest Membrane Feasible Has Been Produced
Apr. 17, 2014 — A new nano-membrane made out of the 'super material' graphene is extremely light and breathable. Not only can this open the door to a new generation of functional waterproof clothing, but also to ... full story
Surprising Material Could Play Huge Role in Saving Energy: Tin Selenide Is Best at Converting Waste Heat to Electricity
Apr. 17, 2014 — One strategy for addressing the world's energy crisis is to stop wasting so much energy when producing and using it, such as in coal-fired power plants or transportation. Nearly two-thirds of energy ... full story
Patented Research Remotely Detects Nitrogen-Rich Explosives
Apr. 17, 2014 — A patented technique that improves military security and remotely detects improvised explosive devices has been developed by an engineer. The same technique could help police during drug searches. ... full story
- SpaceX-3 Launches Science Cargo to Space Station
- 'Exotic' Material: A Switch When Super Thin
- Some LED Bulbs: Whites Aren't 'Whiter Than White'
- Superconductive Material: Impurity Size Matters
- Better Thermal-Imaging Lens from Waste Sulfur
- Nanoparticle Combination Prevents RSV Infection
- Building 'Smart' Cell-Based Therapies
- Thinnest Membrane Feasible Produced
- Converting Waste Heat to Electricity Efficiently
- Detecting Nitrogen-Rich Explosives
NASA Completes LADEE Mission With Planned Impact on Moon's Surface
Apr. 19, 2014 — Ground controllers at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., have confirmed that NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft impacted the surface of the ... full story
A Cross-Section of the Universe
Apr. 17, 2014 — An image of a galaxy cluster gives a remarkable cross-section of the universe, showing objects at different distances and stages in cosmic history. They range from cosmic near neighbors to objects ... full story
Red Moon at Night: Stargazer's Delight
Apr. 16, 2014 — Monday night's lunar eclipse proved just as delightful as expected to those able to view it. On the East Coast, cloudy skies may have gotten in the way, but at the National Science Foundation's ... full story
Mars: Meteorites Yield Clues to Red Planet's Early Atmosphere
Apr. 16, 2014 — Geologists analyzed 40 meteorites that fell to Earth from Mars to understand the history of the Martian atmosphere. Their new article shows the atmospheres of Mars and Earth diverged in important ... full story
A Study in Scarlet: Hot Newborn Stars Formed out of the Clouds
Apr. 16, 2014 — An area of the southern sky, in the constellation of Centaurus (The Centaur), is home to many bright nebulae, each associated with hot newborn stars that formed out of the clouds of hydrogen gas. The ... full story
Astronomers: 'Tilt-a-Worlds' Could Harbor Life
Apr. 15, 2014 — A fluctuating tilt in a planet's orbit does not preclude the possibility of life, according to new research. In fact, sometimes it may help. That's because such "tilt-a-worlds," as astronomers ... full story
NASA Cassini Images May Reveal Birth of a Saturn Moon
Apr. 14, 2014 — NASA's Cassini spacecraft has documented the formation of a small icy object within the rings of Saturn that may be a new moon, and may also provide clues to the formation of the planet's known ... full story
Cosmic Slurp: Supercomputers Help Astronomers Understand and Predict How Black Holes Swallow Stars
Apr. 14, 2014 — A 'tidal disruption' occurs when a star orbits too close to a black hole and gets usurped. Researchers are using supercomputers to simulate tidal disruptions to better understand the dynamics of the ... full story
SpaceX’s Dragon Headed to Space Station to Create Astronaut Farmers
Apr. 14, 2014 — "Enter the Dragon" takes on a whole new meaning this month as SpaceX's Dragon capsule heads to the International Space Station for its third commercial resupply mission on April 14. During the ... full story
International Space Station to Beam Video Via Laser Back to Earth
Apr. 14, 2014 — A team of about 20 working at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., through the lab's Phaeton early-career-hire program, led the development of the Optical Payload for Lasercomm ... full story
- LADEE Mission: Spacecraft Impacts Moon's Surface
- A Cross-Section of the Universe
- Red Moon at Night: Stargazer's Delight
- Meteorites Show Mars' Early Atmosphere
- Hot Newborn Stars Formed out of the Clouds
- Astronomers: 'Tilt-a-Worlds' Could Harbor Life
- Images May Reveal Birth of a Saturn Moon
- Cosmic Slurp: How Black Holes Swallow Stars
- Dragon to Create Astronaut Farmers
- ISS to Beam Video Via Laser Back to Earth
Tracking Flu Levels With Wikipedia
Apr. 17, 2014 — Can monitoring Wikipedia hits show how many people have the flu? Researchers have developed a method of estimating levels of influenza-like illness in the American population by analyzing Internet ... full story
Simplicity Is Key to Co-Operative Robots
Apr. 16, 2014 — A way of making hundreds -- or even thousands -- of tiny robots cluster to carry out tasks without using any memory or processing power has been developed. Engineers have programmed extremely simple ... full story
Chess Robots to Cause Judgment Day?
Apr. 16, 2014 — Next time you play a computer at chess, think about the implications if you beat it. It could be a very sore loser! A new study reflects upon the growing need for autonomous technology, and suggests ... full story
Beating the Clock for Ischemic Stroke Sufferers
Apr. 16, 2014 — Researchers have developed a new computer tool to ensure faster care and treatment for stroke patients. The CAD stroke technology is capable of detecting signs of stroke from computed tomography (CT) ... full story
Information Storage for the Next Generation of Plastic Computers: Efficient Conversion from Magnetic Storage to Light Is Key
Apr. 16, 2014 — Inexpensive computers, cell phones and other systems that substitute flexible plastic for silicon chips may be one step closer to reality, thanks to new research. Scientists have made a new proposal ... full story
Quantum Computing? Progress in the Fight Against Quantum Dissipation
Apr. 16, 2014 — Scientists have confirmed a 50-year-old, previously untested theoretical prediction in physics and improved the energy storage time of a quantum switch by several orders of magnitude. High-quality ... full story
Scientists Capture Ultrafast Snapshots of Light-Driven Superconductivity
Apr. 16, 2014 — A new study pins down a major factor behind the appearance of superconductivity -- the ability to conduct electricity with 100 percent efficiency -- in a promising copper-oxide material. Scientists ... full story
Ant Colonies Help Evacuees in Disaster Zones
Apr. 16, 2014 — An escape route mapping system based on the behavior of ant colonies could give evacuees a better chance of reaching safe harbor after a natural disaster or terrorist attack by building a map showing ... full story
Augmented Reality: Bringing History and the Future to Life
Apr. 16, 2014 — Have you ever wished you had a virtual time machine that could show you how your street looked last century? Or have you wanted to see how your new furniture might look, before you’ve even bought ... full story
Computer Software Analyzing Facial Expressions Accurately Predicts Student Test Performance
Apr. 16, 2014 — Real-time engagement detection technology that processes facial expressions can perform with accuracy comparable to that of human observers, according to new research. The study used automatic ... full story
- Tracking Flu Levels With Wikipedia
- Simplicity Is Key to Co-Operative Robots
- Chess Robots to Cause Judgment Day?
- Beating the Clock for Ischemic Stroke Sufferers
- Next Generation of Plastic Computers
- Progress in Fight Against Quantum Dissipation
- Snapshots of Light-Driven Superconductivity
- Ant Colonies Help Evacuees in Disaster Zones
- Bringing History and the Future to Life
- Software: Looks On Faces Predict Test Scores
Plants With Dormant Seeds Give Rise to More Species
Apr. 18, 2014 — Seeds that sprout as soon as they're planted may be good news for a garden. But in the wild, a plant whose seeds sprouted at the first warm spell or rainy day would risk disaster. More than just an ... full story
Five Anthropogenic Factors That Will Radically Alter Northern Forests in 50 Years
Apr. 17, 2014 — Five anthropogenic factors that will radically alter forest conditions and management needs in the Northern United States have been outlined in a new report. "The northern quadrant of the United ... full story
How the Immune System Protects Children from Malaria
Apr. 17, 2014 — Children who live in regions of the world where malaria is common can mount an immune response to infection with malaria parasites that may enable them to avoid repeated bouts of high fever and ... full story
Malaria Pathogen's Cellular Skeleton Under Super-Microscope
Apr. 17, 2014 — The tropical disease malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite. For its survival and propagation, Plasmodium requires a protein called actin. Scientists used high-resolution structural biology ... full story
Gene Variant Raises Risk for Aortic Tear, Rupture
Apr. 17, 2014 — The significance of a genetic variant that substantially increases the risk of a frequently fatal thoracic aortic dissection or full rupture has been confirmed by researchers. Thoracic aortic ... full story
Deadly Human Pathogen Cryptococcus Fully Sequenced
Apr. 17, 2014 — A ten-year effort by an international team has sequenced the entire genome and all the RNA products of the most important pathogenic lineage of Cryptococcus neoformans, a strain called H99.These ... full story
More, Bigger Wildfires Burning Western US Over Last 30 Years
Apr. 17, 2014 — Wildfires across the western United States have been getting bigger and more frequent over the last 30 years. The total area these fires burned increased at a rate of nearly 90,000 acres a year -- an ... full story
Alternative Identification Methods for Threatened Species Urged
Apr. 17, 2014 — With global climate change and rapidly disappearing habitat critical to the survival of endangered species, there is a sense of urgency to confirm the return of animals thought to be extinct, or to ... full story
New Orchid: 'Lophiaris Silverarum' Is Known to Grow Only in Central Panama
Apr. 17, 2014 — One day about eight years ago a postdoctoral scholar and her father were on a field trip in a mountainous area in central Panama when they stumbled upon an orchid they had never seen before. Unable ... full story
Proper Stem Cell Function Requires Hydrogen Sulfide
Apr. 17, 2014 — Stem cells in bone marrow need to produce hydrogen sulfide in order to properly multiply and form bone tissue, according to a new study. Researchers demonstrated that mice's osteoporosis-like ... full story
- Plants With Dormant Seeds Give Rise to More ...
- Factors to Alter Northern Forests in 50 Years
- Immune System Protects Kids from Malaria
- Super-Microscope View of Malaria Pathogen
- Gene Variant Ups Risk for Aortic Tear, Rupture
- Deadly Human Pathogen Fully Sequenced
- More, Bigger Wildfires Burning Western U.S.
- Better Identification of Threatened Species
- New Orchid Known to Grow Only in Central Panama
- Proper Stem Cell Function Needs Hydrogen Sulfide
Fewer Sources for Self-Cleaning Air: Study Overturns Existing Knowledge on Nitrous Acid, HONO
Apr. 17, 2014 — Up to now, nitrous acid, HONO, was considered one of the most important sources of hydroxyl radicals, OH, which is regarded as the detergent of the atmosphere, allowing the air to clean itself. ... full story
Food Shortages Could Be Most Critical World Issue by Mid-Century
Apr. 17, 2014 — The world is less than 40 years away from a food shortage that will have serious implications for people and governments, according to a scientist. "For the first time in human history, food ... full story
East African Honeybees Safe from Invasive Pests ... for Now
Apr. 17, 2014 — Several parasites and pathogens that devastate honeybees in Europe, Asia and the United States are spreading across East Africa, but do not appear to be impacting native honeybee populations at this ... full story
Biologists Help Solve Fungal Mysteries, Inform Studies on Climate Change
Apr. 17, 2014 — A new genetic analysis revealing the previously unknown biodiversity and distribution of thousands of fungi in North America might also reveal a previously underappreciated contributor to climate ... full story
Methane Climate Change Risk Suggested by Proof of Redox Cycling of Humic Substances
Apr. 17, 2014 — Disruption of natural methane-binding process may worsen climate change, scientists have suggested, painting a stark warning on the possible effects of gases such as methane -- which has a greenhouse ... full story
Study Shows Lasting Effects of Drought in Rainy Eastern U.S.
Apr. 17, 2014 — This spring, more than 40 percent of the western U.S. is in a drought that the USDA deems "severe" or "exceptional." The same was true in 2013. In 2012, drought even spread to the humid east. But new ... full story
The Story of Animal Domestication Retold: Scientists Now Think Wild Animals Interbred With Domesticated Ones Until Quite Recently
Apr. 17, 2014 — A review of recent research on the domestication of large herbivores suggests that neither intentional breeding nor genetic isolation were as significant as traditionally thought. "Our findings show ... full story
Genetic Study Tackles Mystery of Slow Plant Domestications
Apr. 17, 2014 — Did domesticating a plant typically take a few hundred or many thousands of years? Genetic studies often indicate that domestication traits have a fairly simple genetic basis, which should facilitate ... full story
Declining Catch Rates in Caribbean Nicaragua Green Turtle Fishery May Be Result of Overfishing
Apr. 16, 2014 — A 20-year assessment of Nicaragua’s legal, artisanal green sea turtle fishery has uncovered a stark reality: greatly reduced overall catch rates of turtles in what may have become an unsustainable ... full story
Earliest Ancestor of Land Herbivores Discovered: 300-Million-Year-Old Predator Showed Way to Modern Terrestrial Ecosystem
Apr. 16, 2014 — New research demonstrates how carnivores transitioned into herbivores for the first time on land. Previously unknown, the 300-million-year old fossilized juvenile skeleton of Eocasea martini is less ... full story
- Fresh Air: Fewer Sources for Self-Cleaning
- Food Shortages: Biggest Issue by Mid-Century?
- East African Honeybees Safe ... for Now
- Climate: Biologists Help Solve Fungal Mysteries
- Climate: Disruption of Natural Methane Binding
- Lasting Effects of Drought in Rainy U.S. East
- Wild Animals Interbred With Domesticated Ones
- Genetic Study Tackles Slow Plant Domestications
- Green Turtle Fishery Decline: Overfishing?
- Earliest Ancestor of Land Herbivores Discovered
New City Wall Discovered at Ancient Roman Port
Apr. 17, 2014 — Researchers have discovered a new section of the boundary wall of the ancient Roman port of Ostia, proving the city was much larger than previously ... full story
Family Ties in the Language Jungle: Amazon Language Relationships Revealed
Apr. 16, 2014 — Relationships between rare languages in the Colombian Amazon have been revealed by researchers. The only linguistic data available for Carabayo, a language spoken by an indigenous group that lives in ... full story
Infectious Diseases: High Disease Load at Conception Reduces Mortality of Children During Epidemics
Apr. 16, 2014 — Children who have been conceived during a severe epidemic are more resistant against other pathogens later in life. For the first time, this has been proved by researchers for the 18th century ... full story
Ancient Shark Fossil Reveals New Insights Into Jaw Evolution
Apr. 16, 2014 — The skull of a newly discovered 325-million-year-old shark-like species suggests that early cartilaginous and bony fishes have more to tell us about the early evolution of jawed vertebrates -- ... full story
Crucial New Information About How the Ice Ages Came About
Apr. 16, 2014 — Scientists have discovered new relationships between deep-sea temperature and ice-volume changes to provide crucial new information about how the ice ages came about. The researchers found, for the ... full story
Trials of the Cherokee Were Reflected in Their Skulls
Apr. 16, 2014 — Researchers have found that environmental stressors -- from the Trail of Tears to the Civil War -- led to significant changes in the shape of skulls in the eastern and western bands of the Cherokee ... full story
At the Origin of Cell Division: The Features of Living Matter Emerge from Inanimate Matter in Simulation
Apr. 16, 2014 — Droplets of filamentous material enclosed in a lipid membrane: these are the models of a “simplified” cell used by physicists who simulated the spontaneous emergence of cell motility and division ... full story
Warm U.S. West, Cold East: 4,000-Year Pattern; Global Warming May Bring More Curvy Jet Streams During Winter
Apr. 16, 2014 — Last winter’s curvy jet stream pattern brought mild temperatures to western North America and harsh cold to the East. A new study shows that pattern became more pronounced 4,000 years ago, and ... full story
New Study Outlines 'Water World' Theory of Life's Origins
Apr. 15, 2014 — Life took root more than four billion years ago on our nascent Earth, a wetter and harsher place than now, bathed in sizzling ultraviolet rays. What started out as simple cells ultimately transformed ... full story
Lifestyle Determines Gut Microbes: Study With Modern Hunter-Gatherers Tells Tale of Bacteria Co-Evolution
Apr. 15, 2014 — The intestinal bacteria of present-day hunter-gatherers has for the first time been deciphered by an international team of researchers. Bacterial populations have co-evolved with humans over millions ... full story
- New City Wall Discovered at Ancient Roman Port
- Amazon: Family Ties in the Language Jungle
- Infectious Diseases: Resistance Over Generations
- Ancient Shark Fossil: Clues to Jaw Evolution
- New Clues On How the Ice Ages Came About
- Trials of Cherokee Were Reflected in Skulls
- Features of Living Matter from Inanimate Matter
- U.S.: Warm West, Cold East: 4,000-Year Pattern
- 'Water World' Theory of Life's Origins Outlined
- Hunter-Gatherers: Tale of Bacteria Co-Evolution
Pocket-Sized Anthrax Detector Created
Apr. 17, 2014 — A credit-card-sized anthrax detection cartridge makes testing safer, easier, faster and cheaper. Bacillus anthracis, the bacteria that causes anthrax, is commonly found in soils all over the world ... full story
NutNet: New Model for Global Research
Apr. 16, 2014 — What do zebra and kangaroos have in common? At first glance, not much -- they aren’t even found in the same part of the world. But here’s one thing they do share: Both are part of the Nutrient ... full story
New Type of Barcode Could Make Counterfeiters' Lives More Difficult
Apr. 16, 2014 — Counterfeiters, beware! Scientists are reporting the development of a new type of inexpensive barcode that, when added to documents or currency, could foil attempts at making forgeries. Although the ... full story
Using Video Surveillance to Measure Peoples' Hand Washing Habits
Apr. 16, 2014 — Use of video surveillance to better understand essential hygiene behavior has been pioneered by researchers. Still, despite years of global public awareness campaigns, hand washing rates remain low. ... full story
EU Must Take Urgent Action on Invasive Species, Experts Urge
Apr. 16, 2014 — The EU must take urgent action to halt the spread of invasive species that are threatening native plants and animals across Europe, according to scientists. The threats posed by these species cost an ... full story
Antibiotics Improve Growth in Children in Developing Countries
Apr. 15, 2014 — Antibiotics improve growth in children at risk of undernourishment in low and middle income countries, according to researchers who have just conducted a research literature review on the subject. ... full story
Mouse Model Would Have Predicted Toxicity of Drug That Killed 5 in 1993 Clinical Trial
Apr. 15, 2014 — Over 20 years after the fatal fialuridine trial, a new study demonstrates that mice with humanized livers recapitulate the drug's toxicity. The work suggests that this mouse model should be added to ... full story
Thyroid Disease Risk Varies Among Blacks, Asians, Whites
Apr. 15, 2014 — An analysis that included active military personnel finds that the rate of the thyroid disorder Graves disease is more common among blacks and Asian/Pacific Islanders compared with whites. The ... full story
Pre-Diabetes, Diabetes Nearly Double Over the Past Two Decades
Apr. 15, 2014 — Cases of diabetes and pre-diabetes in the United States have nearly doubled since 1988, suggests new research, with obesity apparently to blame for the surge. The researchers also found that the ... full story
How Mothers Help Children Explore Right and Wrong
Apr. 15, 2014 — Moms want their kids to grow up to be good people -- but how do they actually help their offspring sort out different types of moral issues? A new study shows many moms talk to their kids in ways ... full story
- Pocket-Sized Anthrax Detector Created
- NutNet: New Model for Global Research
- New Barcode Could Help Thwart Counterfeiters
- Video Surveillance of Hand Washing Habits
- EU Must Take Urgent Action On Invasive Species
- Antibiotics, Developing Countries: Kids Grow More
- Drug Killed 5 in 1993: Mice Would Have Predicted
- Thyroid Disease Risk Varies Across Races
- Pre-Diabetes, Diabetes Nearly Double in 20 Years
- How Mothers Help Kids Explore Right and Wrong
Flaw in 'Secure' Cloud Storage Could Put Privacy at Risk
Apr. 15, 2014 — Computer scientists have found a flaw in the way that secure cloud storage companies protect their customers’ data. The scientists say this weakness jeopardizes the privacy protection these digital ... full story
Cybersecurity Researchers Roll out a New Heartbleed Solution: Red Herring Creates Decoy Servers, Entraps, Monitors Hackers
Apr. 14, 2014 — As companies scrambled in recent days to address the latest cybersecurity bug known as Heartbleed, researchers demonstrate a solution that fixes the vulnerability, and also detects and entraps ... full story
Tiny Particles Could Help Verify Goods
Apr. 13, 2014 — Chemical engineers hope smartphone-readable microparticles could crack down on counterfeiting. Some 2 to 5 percent of all international trade involves counterfeit goods, according to a 2013 United ... full story
Should You Trust Your Financial Advisor? Pseudo-Mathematics and Financial Charlatanism
Apr. 10, 2014 — Your financial advisor calls you up to suggest a new investment scheme. Drawing on 20 years of data, he has set his computer to work on this question: If you had invested according to this scheme in ... full story
UN Climate Report: Pricing of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Critical
Apr. 4, 2014 — Despite climate change, most polluters still pay little or nothing when they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. A cost $0.15 US per kilo of carbon dioxide would be enough to solve the whole ... full story
Americans Using More Energy, According to New Analysis
Apr. 2, 2014 — Americans used more renewable, fossil and even nuclear energy in 2013, according to the most recent energy flow charts. Wind energy continued to grow strongly, increasing 18 percent from 1.36 ... full story
Agroforestry Systems Can Repair Degraded Watersheds
Mar. 27, 2014 — Agroforestry, combined with land and water management practices that increase agricultural productivity, can save watersheds from degradation. A study in the Gabayan watershed in eastern Bohol, ... full story
Smoke-Free Air Policies Seem to Protect the Heart
Mar. 27, 2014 — Policies prohibiting tobacco smoking in workplaces and other public spaces may substantially improve public health by reducing heart disease and death, according to a new study on the impact of ... full story
Keeping Secrets in a World of Spies and Mistrust
Mar. 26, 2014 — A new article reviews developments in quantum cryptography and describes how we can keep our secrets secret even when faced with the double challenge of mistrust and ... full story
Important and Complex Systems, from the Global Financial Market to Groups of Friends, May Be Highly Controllable
Mar. 20, 2014 — Scientists have discovered that all complex systems, whether they are found in the body, in international finance, or in social situations, actually fall into just three basic categories, in terms of ... full story
- Privacy at Risk: Flaw in 'Secure' Cloud Storage
- Cybersecurity: New Heartbleed Solution
- Tiny Particles Could Help Verify Goods
- Pseudo-Mathematics and Financial Charlatanism
- UN: Pricing of CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions Critical
- Americans Using More Energy: Analysis
- Agroforestry Can Repair Degraded Watersheds
- Smoke-Free Air Policies Seem to Protect Heart
- Keeping Secrets in a World of Spies, Mistrust
- Complex Systems May Be Highly Controllable
Teaching to Optimize Learning or Control Misbehavior? Scale of Disruptive Behavior in Schools Seriously Underestimated
Apr. 14, 2014 — The true extent of poor pupil behavior in schools is seriously underestimated, according to an academic. The research raises the question of the extent to which there is a right to learn in ... full story
Procrastination and Impulsivity Genetically Linked: Exploring the Genetics of 'I'll Do It Tomorrow'
Apr. 7, 2014 — Procrastination and impulsivity are genetically linked, suggesting that the two traits stem from similar evolutionary origins, according to new research. The research indicates that the traits are ... full story
U.S. School Children Exposed to Arsenic in Well Water Have Lower IQ Scores
Apr. 7, 2014 — A study from three school districts in Maine exposed to arsenic in drinking water experienced declines in child intelligence. While earlier studies conducted by the researchers in South Asia, and ... full story
Limiting Screen Time Improves Sleep, Academics, Behavior, Study Finds
Mar. 31, 2014 — Parents may not always see it, but efforts to limit their children’s screen time can make a difference. A new study found children get more sleep, do better in school and see other health benefits ... full story
Four in 10 Infants Lack Strong Parental Attachments
Mar. 27, 2014 — In a study of 14,000 US children, 40 percent lack strong emotional bonds -- what psychologists call 'secure attachment' -- with their parents that are crucial to success later in life, according to a ... full story
Natural History Must Reclaim Its Place, Experts Say
Mar. 26, 2014 — Scientists argue that the study of natural history has waned in recent decades in developed countries. Declining course requirements and support for herbaria are among the documented evidence. Yet ... full story
Secret to Cutting Sugary Drink Use by Teens Found by New Study
Mar. 26, 2014 — A new study shows that teenagers can be persuaded to cut back on sugary soft drinks -- especially with a little help from their friends. A 30-day challenge encouraging teens to reduce sugar-sweetened ... full story
Life Lessons: Children Learn Aggressive Ways of Thinking and Behaving from Violent Video Games, Study Finds
Mar. 24, 2014 — Children who repeatedly play violent video games are learning thought patterns that will stick with them and influence behaviors as they grow older, according to a new study. The effect is the same ... full story
Preterm Children at Increased Risk of Having Math Problems
Mar. 21, 2014 — Preterm children are at an increased risk of having general cognitive and mathematic problems, research has concluded. "Teachers should be aware of these children's problems and need to work on ways ... full story
Genes Play Key Role in Parenting: Children Also Shape Parents' Behavior
Mar. 20, 2014 — Scientists have presented the most conclusive evidence yet that genes play a significant role in parenting. The study sheds light on another misconception: that parenting is solely a top-down process ... full story
- Disruptive Behavior in Schools Underestimated
- Impulsivity Genetically Tied to Procrastination
- Well Water Arsenic Linked to Kids With Lower IQ
- Limiting Screen Time Improves Sleep, Behavior
- 4 in 10 Infants Lack Strong Parental Attachments
- Natural History Must Reclaim Its Place
- Secret to Cutting Sugary Drink Use by Teens
- Kids Learn Violence from Video Games: Study
- Preterm Kids at Risk of Future Math Problems
- Genes Play Key Role in Parenting
