Today's Science News
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Featured Research
from universities, journals, and other organizations
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
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 ... 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
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
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
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
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
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 ... 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
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
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 ... 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
In Sex-Reversed Cave Insects, Females Have the Penises
Apr. 17, 2014 — Little-known cave insects with rather novel sex lives have been discovered by researchers. The Brazilian insects, which represent four distinct but related species in the genus Neotrogla, are the ... full story
- First 'Habitable' Earth-Sized Planet Confirmed
- Fear of Cuckoo Mafia: Birds Raise Others' Young
- 3-Million-Year-Old Landscape Preserved
- Wild Animals Interbred With Domesticated Ones
- Earliest Ancestor of Land Herbivores Discovered
- People of Color Living With More Air Pollution
- Better Identification of Threatened Species
- More, Bigger Wildfires Burning Western U.S.
- Genetic Study Tackles Slow Plant Domestications
- Thinnest Membrane Feasible Produced
- New Antidepressant Approach: Natural Resilence
- Flies: Sleep Deficit Linked to Mating Problems?
- Converting Waste Heat to Electricity Efficiently
- A Cross-Section of the Universe
- Sex-Reversed Cave Insects: Females Have Penises
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last updated on 2014-04-17 at 9:13 pm EDT
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
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
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
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
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
Adrenaline Does Little to Increase Patient's Survival After Cardiac Arrest, Study Finds
Apr. 17, 2014 — Giving patients adrenaline after they suffer a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital does not increase their prospects of surviving long-term, according to new research. When a person has a cardiac ... full story
Refining Language for Chromosomes
Apr. 17, 2014 — A new classification system that may standardize how structural chromosomal rearrangements are described has been proposed by a team of researchers. Known as Next-Gen Cytogenetic Nomenclature, it is ... 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
For Resetting Circadian Rhythms, Neural Cooperation Is Key
Apr. 17, 2014 — Fruit flies are pretty predictable when it comes to scheduling their days, with peaks of activity at dawn and dusk and rest times in between. Now, researchers have found that the clusters of brain ... full story
Fighting Malaria Drug Resistance: Scientists Find New Way
Apr. 17, 2014 — An anti-malarial treatment that lost its status as the leading weapon against the deadly disease could be given a new lease of life, with new research indicating it simply needs to be administered ... full story
- Multitarget TB Drug May Treat Other Diseases Too
- Building 'Smart' Cell-Based Therapies
- Pregnancy: Fish Consumption, Harm to Infants?
- Cause of Brain Bleeding Immediately After Stroke
- Proper Stem Cell Function Needs Hydrogen Sulfide
- Adrenaline After Cardiac Arrest Does Little?
- Refining Language for Chromosomes
- Novel Therapies for Fragile X Syndrome Near?
- Neural Cooperation Key for Circadian Rhythms
- Fighting Malaria Drug Resistance: New Way
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
'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
'Brain Training' Overcomes Tics in Tourette Syndrome, Study Finds
Apr. 17, 2014 — Children with Tourette Syndrome (TS) may unconsciously train their brain to more effectively control their tics. Teenagers diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome (TS) were slower than their typically ... full story
Atypical Brain Connectivity Associated With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Apr. 16, 2014 — Autism spectrum disorder in adolescents appears to be associated with atypical connectivity in the brain involving the systems that help people infer what others are thinking and understand the ... 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
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
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
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 Kids' Brain Structures Grow as Memory Develops
Apr. 16, 2014 — Our ability to store memories improves during childhood, associated with structural changes in the hippocampus and its connections with prefrontal and parietal cortices. New research is exploring how ... full story
Eavesdropping on Brain Cell Chatter
Apr. 16, 2014 — Everything we do -- all of our movements, thoughts and feelings -- are the result of neurons talking with one another, and recent studies have suggested that some of the conversations might not be ... full story
- Our Brains Are Hardwired for Language
- Spoken Language Helps Direct Children's Eyes
- Tourette Syndrome: Brain Training Overcomes Tics
- Atypical Brain Connectivity Linked to Autism
- Amazon: Family Ties in the Language Jungle
- Surprising Results of Banning Chocolate Milk
- Beating the Clock for Ischemic Stroke Sufferers
- Old Age Lack of Emotion: Brain Shrinking?
- Kids' Brain Structures Grow as Memory Develops
- Eavesdropping On Brain Cell Chatter
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
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
Toddlers 'Surprisingly Sophisticated' at Understanding Unfamiliar Accents
Apr. 16, 2014 — By two years of age, children are remarkably good at comprehending speakers who talk with accents the toddlers have never heard before, a study has shown. Even more striking, say researchers, ... full story
Multiple Births Don't Have to Be an Inevitable Result of Fertility Treatments
Apr. 16, 2014 — While fertility treatments have helped many people become parents, they commonly result in multiple births, increasing the risk of prematurity, and leading to lifelong complications. But this doesn't ... full story
How Toddlers Learn Verbs: New Insight
Apr. 16, 2014 — Parents can help toddlers' language skills by showing them a variety of examples of different actions, according to new research. Previous research has shown that verbs pose particular difficulties ... 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
Body Mass Index Associated With Breast Cancer, Regardless of Body Shape
Apr. 16, 2014 — A larger waist circumference is associated with higher risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, but not beyond its contribution to BMI, a new study of predominantly white women finds. The study fails to ... full story
Low Vitamin D May Not Be a Culprit in Menopause Symptoms
Apr. 16, 2014 — No significant connection between vitamin D levels and menopause symptoms has been made from the results of a research project on the topic. The authors analyzed the relationship between the blood ... full story
- How You Hold Newborn Affects Iron Uptake: Study
- Bacteria Can Survive On Contact Lenses
- How Smells Stick to Your Memories
- Global Coffee Trends: Bad for Environment?
- Toddlers Good at Understanding Unfamiliar Accents
- Fertility Treatments Don't Have to Mean Multiples
- How Toddlers Learn Verbs: New Insight
- Software: Looks On Faces Predict Test Scores
- Breast Cancer: BMI Matters More Than Body Shape
- Low Vitamin D May Not Impact Menopause Symptoms
New Technique Detects Microscopic Diabetes-Related Eye Damage
Apr. 17, 2014 — New early-warning signs of the potential loss of sight associated with diabetes have been detected by researchers. This discovery could have far-reaching implications for the diagnosis and treatment ... full story
Key Milestone for Brown Fat Research With Ground-Breaking MRI Scan
Apr. 17, 2014 — The first MRI scan to show 'brown fat' in a living adult could prove to be an essential step towards a new wave of therapies to aid the fight against diabetes and obesity. Brown fat has become a hot ... full story
Chiral Breathing: Electrically Controlled Polymer Changes Its Optical Properties
Apr. 17, 2014 — Electrically controlled glasses with continuously adjustable transparency, new polarization filters, and even chemosensors capable of detecting single molecules of specific chemicals could be ... 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
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
Theoretical Biophysics: Adventurous Bacteria Decide How to Preserve Species?
Apr. 16, 2014 — To reproduce or to conquer the world? Surprisingly, bacteria also face this problem. Theoretical biophysicists have now shown how these organisms should decide how best to preserve their ... 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
Searching for Dark Energy With Neutrons: With Neutrons, Scientists Can Now Look for Dark Energy in the Lab
Apr. 16, 2014 — It does not always take a huge accelerator to do particle physics: First results from a low energy, table top alternative takes validity of Newtonian gravity down by five orders of magnitude and ... 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
- Micro Diabetes-Related Eye Damage Detectable
- Ground-Breaking MRI Shows Human 'Brown Fat'
- Polymer Combines Optical, Electrical Properties
- Simplicity Is Key to Co-Operative Robots
- Chess Robots to Cause Judgment Day?
- Next Generation of Plastic Computers
- Theoretical Biophysics: Adventurous Bacteria
- Progress in Fight Against Quantum Dissipation
- Searching for Dark Energy in the Lab
- Snapshots of Light-Driven Superconductivity
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
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
- Bright Points On Sun Reflect Hidden Interior
- Vitamin B3 Delivered to Earth by Meteorites?
- 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
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
Potential Use of Google Glass in Surgical Settings
Apr. 16, 2014 — A new article shows the potential applications for Google Glass in the surgical setting, particularly in relation to training. Personal portable information technology is advancing at a breathtaking ... full story
Lens Turns Any Smartphone Into a Portable Microscope
Apr. 15, 2014 — The Micro Phone Lens can turn any smartphone or tablet computer into a hand-held microscope. The soft, pliable lens sticks to a device's camera without any adhesive or glue and makes it possible to ... full story
Computerized Counseling Reduces HIV-1 Viral Load, Sexual Transmission Risk
Apr. 15, 2014 — Computerized counseling is a promising intervention for increased ART adherence and safer sex, especially for individuals with problems in these areas. This is the first intervention to report ... full story
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
Intelligent Prosthetic Liners Could Ease Pain for Lower Limb Amputees
Apr. 15, 2014 — A new device could help to relieve the pain and discomfort experienced by thousands of amputees as a result of poorly fitting replacement lower limbs. Researchers are developing a prototype of the ... full story
Futuristic Robots Allow Doctors to Examine Patients from Anywhere
Apr. 14, 2014 — A fleet of telemedicine robots to improve efficiency and patient care is being deployed to physicians, who will use them to examine patients remotely. Using a laptop, tablet or smartphone, doctors ... full story
New Fusion Technology Increases Prostate Cancer Detection Accuracy to 97 Percent
Apr. 14, 2014 — A powerful new tool for visualizing and monitoring the prostate in men who have high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and in detecting prostate cancer more accurately is now available in some ... 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
- Ant Colonies Help Evacuees in Disaster Zones
- Bringing History and the Future to Life
- Using Google Glass in Surgical Settings?
- Lens Turns Any Smartphone Into a Microscope
- Computerized Counseling Cuts HIV-1 Viral Load
- Privacy at Risk: Flaw in 'Secure' Cloud Storage
- Intelligent Prosthetic Liners May Mean Less Pain
- Robots Let Doctors See Patients From Anywhere
- Fusion Tech: 97% Prostate Cancer Detection
- Cybersecurity: New Heartbleed Solution
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
Some Immune Cells Defend Only One Organ
Apr. 17, 2014 — Some organs have the immunological equivalent of 'neighborhood police' -- specialized squads of defenders that patrol only one area, a single organ, instead of an entire city, the body, scientists ... 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
Rapid, Accurate mRNA Detection in Plant Tissues
Apr. 17, 2014 — Messenger RNA (mRNA) plays an important role in gene expression, and examining the types and amounts of mRNA present in an organism allows researchers to answer key questions about gene expression ... 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
HIV and Schistosomiasis Coinfection in African Children: More Research Needed
Apr. 17, 2014 — More research is needed on HIV and schistosomiasis coinfection in children in sub-Saharan Africa, experts say. They looked at previous research into the joint burden of HIV/AIDS and schistosomiasis ... full story
New MRSA Superbug Emerges in Brazil
Apr. 17, 2014 — A new superbug that caused a bloodstream infection in a Brazilian patient has been identified by an international research team. The new superbug is part of a class of highly-resistant bacteria known ... 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
Chimpanzees Prefer Firm, Stable Beds
Apr. 16, 2014 — Chimpanzees may select a certain type of wood, Ugandan ironwood, over other options for its firm, stable, and resilient properties to make their bed. Chimpanzees use tree branches to build beds or ... full story
- Factors to Alter Northern Forests in 50 Years
- Some Immune Cells Defend Only One Organ
- Climate: Biologists Help Solve Fungal Mysteries
- Climate: Disruption of Natural Methane Binding
- Rapid, Accurate mRNA Detection in Plant Tissues
- Lasting Effects of Drought in Rainy U.S. East
- HIV, Schistosomiasis Coinfection in African Kids
- New MRSA Superbug Emerges in Brazil
- Green Turtle Fishery Decline: Overfishing?
- Chimpanzees Prefer Firm, Stable Beds
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
Residing in High Altitude Military Facilities Protects Service Members from Obesity
Apr. 16, 2014 — Overweight U.S. service members are 41 percent less likely to transition to clinical obesity when stationed at military facilities located at high altitude, according to a new study. The ... 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
A Greener Source of Polyester: Cork Trees
Apr. 16, 2014 — On the scale of earth-friendly materials, you'd be hard pressed to find two that are farther apart than polyester (not at all) and cork (very). In an unexpected twist, however, scientists are ... full story
DNA Looping Damage Tied to HPV Cancer, Researcher Discovers
Apr. 16, 2014 — Certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) are known to cause about five percent of all cancer cases, yet all the mechanisms aren't completely understood. Now, researchers have leveraged Ohio ... full story
Floating Nuclear Plants Could Ride out Tsunamis: New Design for Enhanced Safety, Easier Siting and Centralized Construction
Apr. 16, 2014 — When an earthquake and tsunami struck the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant complex in 2011, neither the quake nor the inundation caused the ensuing contamination. Rather, it was the aftereffects -- ... full story
Relieving Electric Vehicle Range Anxiety With Improved Batteries
Apr. 16, 2014 — A new nanomaterial called a metal organic framework could extend the lifespan of lithium-sulfur batteries, which could be used to increase the driving range of electric vehicles. Researchers added ... full story
Diverse Gene Pool Critical for Tigers' Survival, Say Experts
Apr. 16, 2014 — Increasing tigers' genetic diversity -- via interbreeding and other methods -- and not just their population numbers may be the best solution to saving this endangered species, according to research. ... 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
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
- Fresh Air: Fewer Sources for Self-Cleaning
- Could Residing at High Altitude Cut Obesity?
- New Clues On How the Ice Ages Came About
- A Greener Source of Polyester: Cork Trees
- DNA Looping Damage Tied to HPV Cancer
- Floating Nuclear Plants Could Ride out Tsunamis
- Reliable Batteries for Electric Vehicles
- Diverse Gene Pool Critical for Tigers' Survival
- EU Must Take Urgent Action On Invasive Species
- U.S.: Warm West, Cold East: 4,000-Year Pattern
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
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
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
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
Bioarchaeologists Link Climate Instability to Human Mobility in Ancient Sahara
Apr. 15, 2014 — Researchers have uncovered clues to how past peoples moved across their landscape as the once lush environment deteriorated. Scientists sampled bone and teeth enamel, and used their chemical ... full story
Medieval Slave Trade Routes in Eastern Europe Extended from Finland and the Baltic Countries to Central Asia
Apr. 15, 2014 — The routes of slave trade in Eastern Europe in the medieval and pre-modern period extended all the way to the Caspian Sea and Central Asia. A recent study suggests that persons captured during raids ... full story
Faithful Allies Since the Cretaceous: Symbiosis Between Beewolves and Protective Bacteria Originated Millions of Years Ago
Apr. 14, 2014 — Scientists have discovered that certain wasps tightly control mother-to-offspring transmission of their bacterial symbionts. This stabilizes the symbiotic alliance and contributed to its persistence ... full story
Ferns Borrowed Genes to Flourish in Low Light
Apr. 14, 2014 — During the age of the dinosaurs, the arrival of flowering plants as competitors could have spelled doom for primitive ferns. Instead, ferns diversified and flourished under the new canopy -- using a ... full story
- New City Wall Discovered at Ancient Roman Port
- Ancient Shark Fossil: Clues to Jaw Evolution
- Trials of Cherokee Were Reflected in Skulls
- Features of Living Matter from Inanimate Matter
- 'Water World' Theory of Life's Origins Outlined
- Hunter-Gatherers: Tale of Bacteria Co-Evolution
- Climate Change: Human Mobility in Ancient Sahara
- Medieval Slave Trade Routes in Eastern Europe
- Faithful Allies Since the Cretaceous
- Ferns Borrowed Genes to Flourish in Low Light
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
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
Sensitive Detection Method May Help Impede Illicit Nuclear Trafficking
Apr. 15, 2014 — According to a new study, coupling commercially available spectral X-ray detectors with a specialized algorithm can improve the detection of uranium and plutonium in small, layered objects such as ... full story
European Climate at the 2 Degrees Celsius Global Warming Threshold
Apr. 15, 2014 — A global warming of 2 degrees Celsius relative to pre-industrial climate has been considered as a threshold which society should endeavor to remain below, in order to limit the dangerous effects of ... full story
Moth Study Suggests Hidden Climate Change Impacts
Apr. 15, 2014 — A 32-year study of subarctic forest moths in Finnish Lapland suggests that scientists may be underestimating the impacts of climate change on animals and plants because much of the harm is hidden ... full story
- New Barcode Could Help Thwart Counterfeiters
- Video Surveillance of Hand Washing Habits
- 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
- Impeding Illicit Nuclear Trafficking
- European Climate at Global Warming Threshold
- Moth Study: Hidden Climate Change Impacts?
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
A Majority Prefers Letting Computers Decide
Mar. 19, 2014 — When individuals engage in risky business transactions with each other, they may end up being disappointed. This is why they'd rather leave the decision on how to divvy up jointly-owned monies to a ... full story
Quantum Physics Secures New Cryptography Scheme
Mar. 12, 2014 — The way we secure digital transactions could soon change. An international team has demonstrated a form of quantum cryptography that can protect people doing business with others they may not know or ... full story
- 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
- A Majority Prefers Letting Computers Decide
- Quantum Physics Secures New Cryptography Scheme
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
