ScienceDaily: News, Videos & Articles in Science, Health, Technology & Environment

Nice to Sniff You: Handshakes May Engage Our Sense of Smell

Mar. 3, 2015 — Why do people shake hands? A new study suggests one of the reasons for this ancient custom may be to check out each other's odors. Even if we are not consciously aware of this, handshaking may ... full story

Perception; Gender Difference; Staying Healthy; Smoking; Smoking Addiction; Public Health Education

First Ever Photograph of Light as a Particle and a Wave

Mar. 2, 2015 — Light behaves both as a particle and as a wave. Since the days of Einstein, scientists have been trying to directly observe both of these aspects of light at the same time. Now, scientists have ... full story

Optics; Quantum Physics; Physics; Inorganic Chemistry; Graphene; Chemistry

Genetically Speaking, Mammals Are More Like Their Fathers

Mar. 2, 2015 — You might resemble or act more like your mother, but a novel research study reveals that mammals are genetically more like their dads. Specifically, the research shows that although we inherit equal ... full story

Genes; Genetics; Gene Therapy; Personalized Medicine; Mice; Human Biology

Old-Looking Galaxy in a Young Universe: Astronomers Find Dust in the Early Universe

Mar. 2, 2015 — Dust plays an extremely important role in the universe -- both in the formation of planets and new stars. But the earliest galaxies had no dust, only gas. Now an international team of astronomers has ... full story

Galaxies; Astrophysics; Cosmology; Astronomy; Extrasolar Planets; Nebulae

First Detailed Microscopy Evidence of Bacteria at the Lower Size Limit of Life

Feb. 27, 2015 — Scientists have captured the first detailed microscopy images of ultra-small bacteria that are believed to be about as small as life can get. The existence of ultra-small bacteria has been debated ... full story

Bacteria; Microbes and More; Microbiology; Biotechnology and Bioengineering; Batteries; Extreme Survival

Cloudy, With a Wisp of Liquid Rock: Clouds Around Exoplanets Analyzed

Mar. 3, 2015 — Meteorologists sometimes struggle to accurately predict the weather here on Earth, but now we can find out how cloudy it is on planets outside our solar system, thanks to new ... full story

Extrasolar Planets; Astronomy; Stars; Pluto; Galaxies; Jupiter

Some Tropical Plants Pick the Best Hummingbirds to Pollinate Flowers

Mar. 3, 2015 — Rather than just waiting patiently for any pollinator that comes their way to start the next generation of seeds, some plants appear to recognize the best suitors and 'turn on' to increase ... full story

Endangered Plants; Botany; Nature; Seeds; Rainforests; Pests and Parasites

BPA Exposure Linked to Autism Spectrum Disorder, Study Reports

Mar. 2, 2015 — A newly published study is the first to report an association between bisphenol-A (BPA), a common plasticizer used in a variety of consumer food and beverage containers, with autism spectrum disorder ... full story

Autism; Learning Disorders; Child Development; Child Psychology; Children's Health; ADD and ADHD

Scientists Crack Piece of Neural Code for Learning, Memory

Mar. 2, 2015 — Researchers describe how postmortem brain slices can be 'read' to determine how a rat was trained to behave in response to specific sounds, a new article suggests. The work provides one of ... full story

Brain Injury; Brain-Computer Interfaces; Animal Learning and Intelligence; Intelligence; Neuroscience; Behavioral Science

Results Challenge Conventional Wisdom About Where the Brain Begins Processing Visual Information

Mar. 2, 2015 — Neuroscientists generally think of the front end of the human visual system as a simple light detection system: The patterns produced when light falls on the retina are relayed to the visual cortex ... full story

Perception; Neuroscience; Brain-Computer Interfaces; Intelligence; Brain Injury; Psychology

Sleep-Walking Neurons: Brain's GPS Never Stops Working -- Even During Sleep

Mar. 2, 2015 — Navigational brain cells that help sense direction are as electrically active during deep sleep as they are during wake time, scientists have discovered. Such information could be useful in treating ... full story

Sleep Disorder Research; Insomnia Research; Sleep Disorders; Insomnia; Disorders and Syndromes; Brain Tumor

Forbidden Atomic Transitions: Controlling Matter 1,000 Times More Precisely Using High-Resolution Spectroscopy

Mar. 2, 2015 — A new twist on an old tool lets scientists use light to study and control matter with 1,000 times better resolution and precision than previously possible. Physicists have demonstrated ... full story

Physics; Graphene; Quantum Physics; Spintronics; Quantum Computing; Chemistry

Breakthrough in Organic Light Emitting Diodes Technology

Mar. 2, 2015 — Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), which are made from carbon-containing materials, have the potential to revolutionize future display technologies, making low-power displays so thin they'll ... full story

Optics; Graphene; Energy Technology; Chemistry; Organic Chemistry; Civil Engineering

Peanut Consumption Associated With Decreased Total Mortality and Mortality from Cardiovascular Diseases

Mar. 2, 2015 — Researchers have examined the association of nut and peanut consumption with mortality among low-income and racially diverse populations and found that intake of peanuts was associated with fewer ... full story

Heart Disease; Food; Diseases and Conditions; Today's Healthcare; Diet and Weight Loss; Cholesterol

Living on the Edge: Stars Found Far from Galaxy Center

Feb. 27, 2015 — Astronomers using data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, have found a cluster of stars forming at the very edge of our Milky Way galaxy. This is the first time ... full story

Galaxies; Stars; NASA; Astronomy; Space Missions; Space Exploration

Highly Sensitive Detection of Malaria Parasites

Mar. 3, 2015 — New assays can detect malaria parasites in human blood at very low levels and might be helpful in the campaign to eradicate malaria, reports a new study. An international team led by Ingrid Felger, ... full story

Malaria; Pests and Parasites; Infectious Diseases; Microbiology

Adults Only Really Catch Flu About Twice a Decade, Suggests Study

Mar. 3, 2015 — Adults over the age of 30 only catch flu about twice a decade, a new study suggests. So, while it may feel like more, flu-like illness can be caused by many pathogens, making it difficult to assess ... full story

Bird Flu; Influenza; Cold and Flu; Infectious Diseases

Bans Don't Help Smokers Quit, Researchers Say

Mar. 3, 2015 — No significant change in home habits of smokers have been observed in the aftermath of a ban on smoking in public spaces, researchers report. Greater inspiration to kick the habit likely comes from ... full story

Smoking Addiction; Smoking; Public Health Education; Staying Healthy

Poor Heart Function Could Be Major Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

Mar. 3, 2015 — Heart function has been associated with the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease through a new study. Participants with decreased heart function, measured by cardiac index, were two to ... full story

Heart Disease; Alzheimer's Research; Alzheimer's; Cholesterol

Divorce Fuels Kids' Sugary Beverage Consumption, Study Finds

Mar. 3, 2015 — Children of recently separated or divorced families are likelier to drink sugar-sweetened beverages than children in families where the parents are married, putting them at higher risk for obesity ... full story

Child Psychology; Children's Health; Diet and Weight Loss; Child Development

Researchers Investigate Possible Colon Cancer Risk for New Generation of Weight-Loss Drugs

Mar. 3, 2015 — Gastric bypass and similar stomach-shrinking surgeries are a popular option for obese patients looking to lose weight or treat type 2 diabetes. While the surgeries have been linked to a decreased ... full story

Colon Cancer; Gastrointestinal Problems; Cancer; Diseases and Conditions

High-Salt Diet Could Protect Against Invading Microbes

Mar. 3, 2015 — Most people consume more salt than they need and therefore have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the two leading causes of death worldwide. But a new study reveals that dietary ... full story

Food Additives; Cholesterol; Heart Disease; Food

Marijuana: The Allergen You Never Knew Existed

Mar. 3, 2015 — As marijuana’s legal status throughout the country continues to change, people should know it can cause allergic ... full story

Allergy; Controlled Substances; Asthma; Diseases and Conditions

Pregnant Women With Asthma Need to Curb Urge to Ask for Antibiotics

Mar. 3, 2015 — Twice as many children born to mothers who took antibiotics during pregnancy were diagnosed with asthma by age 3 than children born to mothers who didn’t take prenatal antibiotics, a new study has ... full story

Asthma; Pregnancy and Childbirth; Allergy; Children's Health

Administering Sedatives for Patients Receiving General Anesthesia Questioned

Mar. 3, 2015 — Although sedatives are often administered before surgery, a randomized trial finds that among patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia, receiving the sedative lorazepam before ... full story

Today's Healthcare; Patient Education and Counseling; Anxiety; Wounds and Healing

Creative Genius Driven by Distraction

Mar. 3, 2015 — The literary great Marcel Proust wore ear-stoppers because he was unable to filter out irrelevant noise -- and lined his bedroom with cork to attenuate sound. Now new research suggests why the ... full story

Creativity; Perception; Child Psychology; Neuroscience

Air Pollution Linked to Slower Cognitive Development in Children

Mar. 3, 2015 — Attendance at schools exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution is linked to slower cognitive development among 7- to 10-year-old children in Barcelona, according to a new ... full story

Pollution; Air Pollution; Air Quality; Environmental Issues

Stress Markers in Unemployed Linked to Poor Health

Mar. 3, 2015 — It appears that stress markers in unemployed people can be found, independent of smoking, alcohol consumption and overweight/obesity. Results from a study suggest that long-term unemployment may be ... full story

Education and Employment; Chronic Illness; Workplace Health; Mental Health Research

Vaccine Skeptics Aren't Swayed by Emotional Scare Tactics

Mar. 3, 2015 — On the heels of an American nationwide measles outbreak comes a report that campaigns aimed at scaring people about the consequences of non-vaccination might not be as effective as many think. ... full story

Vaccines; Mumps, Measles, Rubella; Disorders and Syndromes; Viruses

Time to 'Just Say No' to Behavior-Calming Drugs for Alzheimer Patients? Experts Say Yes

Mar. 3, 2015 — Doctors write millions of prescriptions a year for drugs to calm the behavior of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. But non-drug approaches actually work better, and carry ... full story

Alzheimer's Research; Alzheimer's; Dementia; Today's Healthcare

Educating College Students on Drinking Risks Can Help Lessen Drinking Behaviors, but Only Temporarily, Study Finds

Mar. 3, 2015 — Briefly counseling college students on the dangers of binge drinking is effective in lowering heavy drinking levels among many students, but only temporarily. Three out of four will be right back ... full story

Alcoholism; Behavior; Medical Education and Training; Teen Health

Losing a Spouse Often Too Hastily Linked to Depression

Mar. 3, 2015 — Loneliness brought about by the death of a spouse can trigger a wider network of depression-like symptoms, a study has found, but authors suggest that doctors are often too quick to attribute these ... full story

Depression; Mental Health; Mental Health Research; Anxiety

Family Based Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Preadolescents Is More Effective Than Child-Centered Therapy

Mar. 3, 2015 — Family Based Interpersonal Psychotherapy (FB-IPT) is more effective in treating preadolescent children with depression compared to child-centered therapy (CCT), a recent study has found. ... full story

Depression; Psychiatry; Children's Health; Mental Health

Defect Responsible for Memory Impairment in Aging Found

Mar. 3, 2015 — Everyone worries about losing their memory as they grow older—memory loss remains one of the most common complaints of the elderly. But the molecular reasons behind the processes remain unclear, ... full story

Memory; Intelligence; Chronic Illness; Dementia

Clues to Early Detection of Bipolar Disorders in High-Risk Children

Mar. 3, 2015 — A strong link has been made between subthreshold manic episodes and likelihood of developing bipolar disorder in children of parents with bipolar disorder. The study’s findings could improve ... full story

Psychiatry; Bipolar Disorder; Depression; Children's Health

Advisory About Not Feeding Peanuts to Infants and Young Children at Risk for Peanut Allergy

Mar. 3, 2015 — Pediatric otolaryngologists and surgeons are concerned with parents getting the wrong message regarding the safety/desirability of letting babies and young children eat peanuts to prevent them from ... full story

Infant's Health; Children's Health; Allergy; Down Syndrome

Is 'the Dress' White and Gold or Blue and Black? Visual Perception Expert Weighs in

Mar. 2, 2015 — On Feb. 26, a picture of a cocktail dress originally uploaded to the blog Tumblr swept the Internet and managed to divide the population over a simple question: What color is the dress? Some viewers ... full story

Perception; Racial Issues; Behavior; Neuroscience

When I'm 64 -- I'll Still Have Hot Flashes?

Mar. 2, 2015 — Some 40 percent of women 60 to 65 years old still have hot flashes. For many, the hot flashes are occasional and mild, but for some, they remain really troublesome. Sexual symptoms also remain a ... full story

Menopause; Women's Health; Gynecology; Pregnancy and Childbirth

Growth Screening Could Help Detect Celiac Disease in Kids

Mar. 2, 2015 — Screening for five growth parameters helped detect celiac disease (CD) with good accuracy in both boys and girls because growth falters in most children with CD, according to a new article. CD is an ... full story

Hormone Disorders; Prostate Cancer; Children's Health; Hair Loss

Study on Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Safety Concludes

Mar. 2, 2015 — Cardiovascular risks of severe pediatric obesity, assessed among a recent study, have been recently published. The authors found that severely obese adolescents carry not only excess weight, but also ... full story

Diet and Weight Loss; Obesity; Teen Health; Heart Disease

Lycopene May Ward Off Kidney Cancer in Older Women

Mar. 2, 2015 — A higher intake by postmenopausal women of the natural antioxidant lycopene, found in foods like tomatoes, watermelon and papaya, may lower the risk of renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer, ... full story

Breast Cancer; Kidney Disease; Colon Cancer; Cancer

Mutation May Cause Early Loss of Sperm Supply

Mar. 2, 2015 — Problems in a gene responsible for producing the protein TAF4b leave mice -- and maybe men -- unable to sustain sperm production. As embryos, mice lacking the protein failed to develop an adequate ... full story

Stem Cells; Pregnancy and Childbirth; Fertility; Prostate Cancer

Why Nitrate Supplementation May Increase Athletic Performance

Mar. 2, 2015 — Walk down the aisles of any food supplement store and you'll see that the use of nitrate supplements by athletes and fitness buffs has been popular for years. The hope is that these supplements will ... full story

Food Additives; Anemia; Fitness; Nutrition

Study Identifies Teens at-Risk for Synthetic Marijuana Use

Mar. 2, 2015 — One of the first American national studies to examine risk factors for use of synthetic marijuana among a large, nationally representative sample of teens. Popular among teens, in 2011, synthetic ... full story

Marijuana; Controlled Substances; Illegal Drugs; Addiction

On-Board School Bus Filtration System Reduces Pollutants by 88 Percent

Mar. 2, 2015 — An on-board air filtration system developed specifically for school buses reduces exposure to vehicular pollutants by up to 88 percent, according to a new ... full story

Air Quality; Air Pollution; Pollution; Environmental Science

Float Like a Mosquito: Mechanical Logic May Inspire Aquatic Robots, Better Boats

Mar. 3, 2015 — By examining the forces that the segments of mosquito legs generate against a water surface, researchers have unraveled the mechanical logic that allows the mosquitoes to walk on water, which may ... full story

Nature of Water; Insects (including Butterflies); Drought; Nuclear Energy

Flower-Like Magnetic Nanoparticles Target Difficult Tumors

Mar. 3, 2015 — Next-generation magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) may soon be treating deep-seated and difficult-to-reach tumors within the human ... full story

Medical Technology; Prostate Cancer; Medical Devices; Thermodynamics

Step Change for Screening Could Boost Biofuels

Mar. 3, 2015 — Researchers have developed a new way of rapidly screening yeasts that could help produce more sustainable biofuels. The new technique could also be a boon in the search for new ways of deriving ... full story

Energy and the Environment; Fungus; Agriculture and Food; Environmental Science

UK Cities Including London Not as 'Smart' as Global Counterparts

Mar. 3, 2015 — Major cities in the UK are falling behind their international counterparts in terms of their use of smart technologies, according to a new study. The research has found that smart cities in the UK, ... full story

Sustainability; Textiles and Clothing; Automotive and Transportation; Transportation Science

The Rub With Friction: News Rules of Friction at the Microscopic Level

Mar. 3, 2015 — Scientists have explored friction at the microscopic level. They discovered that the force generating friction is much stronger than previously thought. The discovery is an important step toward ... full story

Nature of Water; Chemistry; Inorganic Chemistry; Materials Science

Networks of Micro-Drones: What Can They Be Expected to Do?

Mar. 3, 2015 — Micro-drones are already being put to use in a large number of areas: These small aircraft face extensive requirements when performing aerial observation tasks or when deployed in the field of ... full story

Aviation; Vehicles; Engineering; Aerospace

MR Spectroscopy Shows Precancerous Breast Changes in Women With BRCA Gene

Mar. 3, 2015 — A magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique that monitors biochemical changes in tissue could improve the management of women at risk of breast cancer, according to a new ... full story

Breast Cancer; Women's Health; Cancer; Menopause

New Data on the Nature of Dark Matter

Mar. 3, 2015 — Recent research contributes to the effort to determine the nature of dark matter, one of the most important mysteries in physics. As indirect evidence provided by its gravitational effects, dark ... full story

Astrophysics; Dark Matter; Stars; Physics

Graphene Research: Electrons Moving Along Defined Snake States

Mar. 3, 2015 — Physicists have shown for the first time that electrons in graphene can be moved along a predefined path. This movement occurs entirely without loss and could provide a basis for numerous ... full story

Graphene; Spintronics; Materials Science; Physics

Breakthrough in Particle Control Creates Special Half-Vortex Rotation

Mar. 3, 2015 — A breakthrough in the control of a type of particle known as the polariton has created a highly specialised form of ... full story

Physics; Quantum Physics; Nature of Water; Telecommunications

Far from Home: Wayward Star Cluster Is Both Tiny and Distant

Mar. 3, 2015 — Like the lost little puppy that wanders too far from home, astronomers have found an unusually small and distant group of stars that seems oddly out of place. The cluster, made of only a handful of ... full story

Galaxies; Stars; Astronomy; Astrophysics

Core Work: Iron Vapor Gives Clues to Formation of Earth and Moon

Mar. 2, 2015 — One of the world's most powerful radiation sources provides scientists clues about Earth's formation and how iron ... full story

Geology; Earth Science; Asteroids, Comets and Meteors; Near-Earth Object Impacts

NASA Spacecraft Nears Historic Dwarf Planet Arrival

Mar. 2, 2015 — NASA's Dawn spacecraft has returned new images captured on approach to its historic orbit insertion at the dwarf planet Ceres. Dawn will be the first mission to successfully visit a dwarf planet when ... full story

Space Missions; NASA; Space Exploration; Solar System

‘Superhero Vision’ Technology Measures European Lake’s Water Quality from Space

Mar. 2, 2015 — An international team of researchers has demonstrated a way to assess the quality of water on Earth from space by using satellite technology that can visualize pollution levels otherwise invisible to ... full story

Water; Satellites; Environmental Issues; Geography

Life 'Not as We Know It' Possible on Saturn's Moon Titan

Feb. 27, 2015 — A new type of methane-based, oxygen-free life form that can metabolize and reproduce similar to life on Earth has been modeled. It is theorized to have a cell membrane, composed of small organic ... full story

Saturn; Molecular Biology; Cell Biology; Genetics

Freeze! Watching Alloys Change from Liquid to Solid Could Lead to Better Metals

Feb. 26, 2015 — If you put a camera in the ice machine and watched water turn into ice, the process would look simple. But the mechanism behind liquids turning to solids is actually quite complex, and understanding ... full story

Nature of Water; Materials Science; Engineering and Construction; Inorganic Chemistry

New NASA Space Cowboy Successfully Deploys Its 'Lasso'

Feb. 26, 2015 — Like a cowboy at a rodeo, NASA's newest Earth-observing satellite, the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), has triumphantly raised its "arm" and unfurled a huge golden "lasso" (antenna) that it will ... full story

Space Exploration; NASA; Space Missions; Earth Science

New Insight Found in Black Hole Collisions

Feb. 26, 2015 — New research by an astrophysicist provides revelations about the most energetic event in the universe -- the merging of two spinning, orbiting black holes into a much larger black ... full story

Black Holes; Astrophysics; Astronomy; Galaxies

MUSE Goes Beyond Hubble: Looking Deeply Into the Universe in 3-D

Feb. 26, 2015 — The MUSE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope has given astronomers the best ever three-dimensional view of the deep universe. After staring at the Hubble Deep Field South region for only 27 ... full story

Space Telescopes; Astrophysics; Galaxies; NASA

Pockets of Calm Protect Molecules Around a Supermassive Black Hole

Feb. 26, 2015 — Researchers have discovered regions where certain organic molecules somehow endure the intense radiation near the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy NGC 1068, also known to amateur ... full story

Black Holes; Galaxies; Astrophysics; Astronomy

Modeling Chimp Behavior? Try Using Laws That Govern Matter

Mar. 3, 2015 — To simulate chimp behavior, scientists created a computer model based on equations normally used to describe the movement of atoms and molecules in a confined space. An interdisciplinary research ... full story

Computer Modeling; Apes; Behavioral Science; Mathematical Modeling

The Taming of Magnetic Vortices: A Unified Theory for Skyrmion-Materials

Mar. 3, 2015 — Magnetic vortex structures, so-called skyrmions, could in future store and process information very efficiently. They could also be the basis for high-frequency components. For the first time, a team ... full story

Materials Science; Electronics; Medical Technology; Civil Engineering

New Technique Improves Forecasts for Canada's Prized Salmon Fishery

Mar. 2, 2015 — A method for analyzing and predicting nature's dynamic and interconnected systems has improved forecasts of populations of Fraser River Sockeye Salmon, a highly prized fishery in British Columbia, ... full story

Fish; Computer Modeling; Fisheries; Ecology Research

Perfect NCAA Bracket? Near Impossible: Mathematician Says

Mar. 2, 2015 — The odds of picking a perfect bracket for the NCAA men's basketball March Madness championship tournament are a staggering less than one in 9.2 quintillion (that's 9,223,372,036,854,775,808), ... full story

Mathematics; Math Puzzles; Mathematical Modeling; Educational Policy

Important Step Towards Quantum Computing: Metals at Atomic Scale

Mar. 2, 2015 — Scientists report that they could observe experimentally the current flow along channels at the crystal surfaces of topological insulators. The channels are less than one nanometer wide and extend ... full story

Spintronics Research; Physics; Energy Technology; Spintronics

Scientists Trick the Light Fantastic

Mar. 2, 2015 — What if one day, your computer, TV or smart phone could process data with light waves instead of an electrical current, making those devices faster, cheaper and more sustainable through less heat and ... full story

Physics; Energy Technology; Materials Science; Chemistry

3-D Printing Offers Innovative Method to Deliver Medication

Mar. 2, 2015 — 3-D printing could become a powerful tool in customizing interventional radiology treatments to individual patient needs, with clinicians having the ability to construct devices to a specific size ... full story

Personalized Medicine; 3-D Printing; Today's Healthcare; Wounds and Healing

The Better to See You With: Prosthetic Leg Would Keep an Eye on Path Ahead

Feb. 27, 2015 — A mechanical engineer and his team have developed a computer-controlled camera that enables their robotic ankle to see where it is ... full story

Neural Interfaces; Artificial Intelligence; Engineering; Civil Engineering

Predicting Human Crowds With Statistical Physics

Feb. 27, 2015 — A general law of how pedestrians interact in a crowd can be used to create realistic crowds in virtual reality games and to make public spaces ... full story

Computer Modeling; Government Regulation; Physics; Popular Culture

Zombie Outbreak? Statistical Mechanics Reveals the Ideal Hideout; And Informs Real Disease Modeling

Feb. 27, 2015 — A team researchers focusing on a fictional zombie outbreak as an approach to disease modeling suggests heading for the hills, in the Rockies, to save your brains from the ... full story

Computer Modeling; Mathematical Modeling; Statistics; Ebola

Lasting Severe Weather Impact Found in Feathers of Young Birds

Mar. 3, 2015 — While studying a ground-nesting bird population near El Reno, Okla., a research team found that stress during a severe weather outbreak of May 31, 2013, had manifested itself into malformations in ... full story

Severe Weather; Storms; Birds; Weather

3-D Printed Parts Provide Low-Cost, Custom Alternatives for Lab Equipment

Mar. 3, 2015 — The 3-D printing scene, a growing favorite of do-it-yourselfers, has spread to the study of plasma physics. With a series of experiments, researchers have found that 3-D printers can be an important ... full story

Extreme Survival; Recycling and Waste; Air Quality; Atmosphere

Plants Detect Bacterial Endotoxin in Similar Process to Mammals

Mar. 3, 2015 — Similar to humans and animals, plants possess an innate immune system that protects them from invading pathogens. Molecular structures that only occur in pathogens enable their recognition and ... full story

Endangered Plants; Botany; Nature; Bacteria

Mystery Solved: Why Seashells' Mineral Forms Differently in Seawater

Mar. 3, 2015 — For almost a century, scientists have been puzzled by a process that is crucial to much of the life in Earth's oceans: Why does calcium carbonate, the tough material of seashells and corals, ... full story

Acid Rain; Water; Environmental Issues; Global Warming

Spurring Production of a Sluggish Enzyme for Crop Yields

Mar. 3, 2015 — Scientists have found a way to improve production of the Rubisco enzyme, essential to plant growth. Important staple crops, such as wheat, cotton and rice stand to ... full story

Agriculture and Food; Botany; Endangered Plants; Food and Agriculture

In Hot and Cold Water: The Private Lives of 'Hoff' Crabs Revealed

Mar. 3, 2015 — Researchers have shed light on the private life of a new species of deep-sea crab, previously nicknamed the 'Hoff' crab because of its hairy ... full story

Marine Biology; Fish; Oceanography; Extreme Survival

Gorilla Origins of the Last Two AIDS Virus Lineages Confirmed

Mar. 3, 2015 — Two of the four known groups of human AIDS viruses (HIV-1 groups O and P) have originated in western lowland gorillas, according to new research. The scientists conducted a comprehensive survey of ... full story

HIV and AIDS; Infectious Diseases; STD; Virology

Methane Oxidation Fuelled by Algal Oxygen Production

Mar. 3, 2015 — Methane emissions are strongly reduced in lakes with anoxic bottom waters. But – contrary to what has previously been assumed – methane removal is not always due to archaea or anaerobic bacteria. ... full story

Bacteria; Extreme Survival; Marine Biology; Climate

Giant Virus Revealed in 3-D Using X-Ray Laser

Mar. 2, 2015 — For the first time, researchers have produced a 3-D image revealing part of the inner structure of an intact, infectious virus, using a unique X-ray laser. The virus, called Mimivirus, is in a ... full story

Virology; Microbes and More; Optics; Physics

Disease-Carrying Fleas Abound on New York City's Rats

Mar. 2, 2015 — In the first study of its kind since the 1920s, rats in New York City were found to carry a flea species capable of transmitting plague pathogens. Among them: 500-plus Oriental rat fleas, notorious ... full story

Veterinary Medicine; Microbes and More; Animals; Insects (including Butterflies)

A New Level of Earthquake Understanding: Surprise Findings from San Andreas Fault Rock Sample

Mar. 3, 2015 — Researchers studied quartz from the San Andreas Fault at the microscopic scale, the scale at which earthquake-triggering stresses originate. The results could one day lead to a better understanding ... full story

Earthquakes; Natural Disasters; Geology; Earth Science

Family Log of Spring's Arrival Helps Predict Climate-Driven Change

Mar. 2, 2015 — Rare historic records of the changing seasons are helping scientists better understand how woodland trees and flowers are responding to climate change. Scientists used records -- compiled by one ... full story

Trees; Climate; Nature; Botany

Munching Bugs Thwart Eager Trees, Reducing the Carbon Sink

Mar. 2, 2015 — Hungry, plant-eating insects may limit the ability of forests to take up elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, reducing their capacity to slow human-driven climate change, a new study ... full story

Forest; Global Warming; Nature; Air Quality

Blend of Polymers Could One Day Make Solar Power Lighter, Cheaper and More Efficient

Mar. 2, 2015 — Scientists are reporting advances on how to one day make solar cells stronger, lighter, more flexible and less expensive when compared with the current silicon or germanium technology on the ... full story

Materials Science; Energy and the Environment; Engineering; Chemistry

Environment May Change, but Microbiome of Queen Bees Does Not

Mar. 2, 2015 — Researchers have characterized the gut microbiome of honey bee queens. This is the first thorough census of the gut microbiome -- which consists of all the microorganisms that live in the gut of the ... full story

Mating and Breeding; Environmental Awareness; Nature; Insects (including Butterflies)

Norwegian Mammals and Birds Have Many Different Methods of Surviving Long, Intense Winter Nights

Mar. 2, 2015 — Norwegian mammals and birds have many different methods of surviving long, intense winter nights. A biologist reveals their secrets for ... full story

Birds; Snow and Avalanches; Nature; Zoology

Enhancing High-Temperature Tolerance in Plants: Effective on Rice and Tomatoes

Mar. 2, 2015 — Agricultural researchers have identified for the first time that theE-2-hexenal, a plant-derived chemical substance, can induce a plant's stress response to high ... full story

Endangered Plants; Botany; Nature; Agriculture and Food

Genetics Reveals Where Emperor Penguins Survived the Last Ice Age

Mar. 1, 2015 — A study of how climate change has affected emperor penguins over the last 30,000 years found that only three populations may have survived during the last ice age, and that the Ross Sea in Antarctica ... full story

Global Warming; Climate; Ice Ages; Early Climate

Introverts Prefer Mountains

Feb. 27, 2015 — In a series of three studies, researchers tested whether there is a link between personality and an aspect of physical ecology: flat terrain versus mountainous terrain. The study found that only one ... full story

Geography; Psychology; Borderline Personality Disorder; Oceanography

How Were Fossil Tracks Made by Early Triassic Swimming Reptiles So Well Preserved?

Feb. 27, 2015 — That swim tracks made by tetrapods occur in high numbers in deposits from the Early Triassic is well known. What is less clear is why the tracks are so abundant and well preserved. Paleontologists ... full story

Fossils; Early Mammals; Early Climate; Evolution

When Age Matters: Precise Dating of Ancient Charcoal Found Near Skull Is Helping Reveal Unique Period in Prehistory

Mar. 3, 2015 — The precise dating of ancient charcoal found near a skull is helping reveal a unique period in prehistory. The Manot Cave, a natural limestone formation, had been sealed for some 15,000 years. It was ... full story

Fossils; Ancient Civilizations; Archaeology; Early Humans

Archaeologists Open Mysterious Lead Coffin Found Buried Just Feet from the Former Grave of King Richard III

Mar. 2, 2015 — Richard III is the only male to be discovered at infamous former car-park site. A mysterious lead coffin found close to the site of Richard III's hastily dug grave at the Grey Friars friary has now ... full story

Ancient Civilizations; Cultures; Anthropology; Archaeology

DNA Evidence Shows Surprise Cultural Connections Between Britain and Europe 8,000 Years Ago

Feb. 27, 2015 — DNA evidence shows surprise cultural connections between Britain and Europe 8,000 years ago. Researchers found evidence for a variety of wheat at a submerged archaeological site off the south coast ... full story

Ancient Civilizations; Origin of Life; Fossils; Biology

How Mantis Shrimp Evolved Many Shapes With Same Powerful Punch

Feb. 26, 2015 — The miniweight boxing title of the animal world belongs to the mantis shrimp, a cigar-sized crustacean whose front claws can deliver an explosive 60-mile-per-hour blow akin to a bullet leaving the ... full story

Fisheries; Evolutionary Biology; Evolution; Insects (including Butterflies)

Crocodiles Rocked Pre-Amazonian Peru: Seven Crocodile Species Found in Single 13-Million-Year-Old Bone Bed

Feb. 24, 2015 — Thirteen million years ago, as many as seven different species of crocodiles hunted in the swampy waters of what is now northeastern Peru, new research shows. This hyperdiverse assemblage, revealed ... full story

Fossils; Nature; Ecology; Ecology Research

Climate-Change Clues from Turtles of Tropical Wyoming

Feb. 24, 2015 — Tropical turtle fossils discovered in Wyoming reveal that when Earth got warmer, prehistoric turtles headed north. But if today's turtles try the same technique to cope with warming habitats, they ... full story

Frogs and Reptiles; Endangered Animals; Nature; New Species

Kenyan Fossils Show Evolution of Hippos

Feb. 24, 2015 — A French-Kenyan research team has just described a new fossil ancestor of today's hippo family. This discovery bridges a gap in the fossil record separating these animals from their closest ... full story

Fossils; Evolution; Origin of Life; Evolutionary Biology

Asian Tree Rings Explain Historical Plague Outbreaks in Europe

Feb. 24, 2015 — Climate-driven plague outbreaks in Asia were repeatedly transmitted over several centuries into southern European harbors, an international team of researchers has found. This finding contrasts the ... full story

Infectious Diseases; Microbes and More; Travel and Recreation; Veterinary Medicine

Sea Urchins, Sand Dollars Thrived With Time

Feb. 23, 2015 — New work on echinoids -- marine animals like sea urchins and sand dollars -- gives scientists a reason to rethink a classical pattern of evolution. Fossil-based studies have traditionally indicated ... full story

Evolutionary Biology; Nature; Evolution; Fossils

Ancient and Modern Cities Aren't So Different

Feb. 20, 2015 — Despite notable differences in appearance and governance, ancient human settlements function in much the same way as modern cities, according to new ... full story

Ancient Civilizations; Anthropology; Urbanization; Cultures

US Spends More on Cancer Care, Saves Fewer Lives Than Western Europe

Mar. 2, 2015 — Despite sharp increases in spending on cancer treatment, cancer mortality rates in the United States have decreased only modestly since 1970, a study has found. "Our results suggest that cancer care ... full story

Breast Cancer; Colon Cancer; Cancer; Diseases and Conditions

Survey of Teen Dating Violence Among US High School Students

Mar. 2, 2015 — A survey of US high school students suggests that 1 in 5 female students and 1 in 10 male students who date have experienced some form of teen dating violence (TDV) during the past 12 months. "These ... full story

Teen Health; Sexual Health; Educational Policy; Medical Education and Training

Pediatricians Face Increasing Pressure to Delay Vaccinations, and More Are Giving in to Parents' Requests

Mar. 2, 2015 — Pediatricians are facing increasing pressure from some parents who want to spread out the recommended vaccine schedule for their children by postponing vaccines, pointing to a need for improved ... full story

Vaccines; Children's Health; Today's Healthcare; Mumps, Measles, Rubella

Global Health Experts Call Into Question Sub-Saharan Cancer Data

Feb. 27, 2015 — Global health experts believe the current data on cancer prevalence, incidence and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa -- which determines how billions of pounds of international development money is ... full story

Health Policy; Diseases and Conditions; Breast Cancer; Public Health

Suicide Rates Rising for Older US Adults

Feb. 27, 2015 — Suicide rates for adults 40-64 years of age in the US have risen about 40 percent since 1999, with a sharp rise since 2007. One possible explanation could be the detrimental effects of the economic ... full story

Economics; Mental Health Research; Workplace Health; Teen Health

Experts Warn of Stem Cell Underuse as Transplants Reach One Million Worldwide

Feb. 27, 2015 — Findings of a new reveal striking variations between countries and regions in the use of this lifesaving stem cell transplantation, and high unmet need due to a chronic shortage of resources and ... full story

Leukemia; Bioethics; Health Policy; Stem Cells

Women Veterans Younger, More Depressed When Referred for Heart Test

Feb. 27, 2015 — Women veterans face a different home front battle with heart disease. Younger and more depressed when getting attention for chest pain -- heart tests often show a surprising ... full story

Heart Disease; Gender Difference; Chronic Illness; Stroke Prevention

Adults Wtih Disabilities Screened for Cancer Less Often

Feb. 26, 2015 — Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are much less likely to be screened for colorectal cancer, research shows. "As individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities ... full story

Colon Cancer; Breast Cancer; Cancer; Prostate Cancer

Economic Models Provide Insights Into Global Sustainability Challenges

Feb. 26, 2015 — Using models that blend global economics, geography, ecology and environmental sciences is essential to understanding how changes in trade and natural systems in one part of the world affect those in ... full story

Environmental Issues; Environmental Policies; Land Management; Global Warming

Embrace Unknowns, Opt for Flexibility in Environmental Policies, Experts Say

Feb. 26, 2015 — We make hundreds, possibly thousands, of decisions each day without having full knowledge of what will happen next. Life is unpredictable, and we move forward the best we can despite not knowing ... full story

Ecology; Ecosystems; Sustainability; Environmental Policies

Amphetamine Gets the Job Done: Using Drugs to Work Long Hours

Feb. 20, 2015 — Drugs are usually associated with vulnerable social groups. New research reveals that amphetamine, however, is used by some in physically demanding manual jobs - to sustain long working ... full story

Addiction; Stress; Relationships; Illegal Drugs

Basic Personality Changes Linked to Unemployment, Study Finds

Feb. 18, 2015 — Unemployment can change peoples' core personalities, making some less conscientious, agreeable and open, which may make it difficult for them to find new jobs, according to new ... full story

Education and Employment; Gender Difference; Borderline Personality Disorder; Racial Issues

Leader of the Pack: Study of Voles and Owls Show Rise of Individuals With Greatest Influence on Collective Group Behavior

Feb. 18, 2015 — Who takes charge during a disaster or at an accident scene? The question has intrigued sociologists since Gustave Le Bon first studied "herd behavior" in nineteenth-century France. The question of an ... full story

Behavioral Science; Behavior; Psychiatry; Social Psychology

How Income Fraud Made the Housing Bubble Worse

Feb. 18, 2015 — New research reveals that, in low-income zip codes, IRS-reported incomes and earnings reported on mortgages in fact differed wildly from 2002 to 2005. The researchers place the blame for falsified ... full story

Poverty and Learning; Markets and Finance; Resource Shortage; Economics

Women Seek Greater Variety in Men and Consumer Products Near Ovulation

Feb. 17, 2015 — New research suggests women seek more options in dating partners near ovulation -- when they are most fertile -- which may lead them to also seek a greater variety of products and ... full story

Gender Difference; Menopause; Consumer Behavior; Women's Health

Workplace Bullying a Vicious Circle

Feb. 17, 2015 — Bullying at work grinds victims down and makes them an 'easy target' for further abuse according to new research. The research suggests that employers should not only crack down on workplace bullies, ... full story

Workplace Health; Anger Management; Anxiety; Mental Health Research

People Value Resources More Consistently When They Are Scarce

Feb. 12, 2015 — We tend to be economically irrational when it comes to choosing how we use resources like money and time but scarcity can convert us into economically rational decision makers, according to new ... full story

Consumer Behavior; Behavior; Child Development; Child Psychology

An Internet of Things Reality Check

Feb. 9, 2015 — Connecting different kinds of devices, not just computers and communications devices, to the Internet could lead to new ways of working with a wide range of machinery, sensors, domestic and other ... full story

Telecommunications; Internet; Communications; Privacy Issues

Increasing Individualism in US Linked With Rise of White-Collar Jobs

Feb. 5, 2015 — Rising individualism in the United States over the last 150 years is mainly associated with a societal shift toward more white-collar occupations, according to new research. The study, which looked ... full story

Social Psychology; STEM Education; Surveillance; Relationships

Novel Method Projects Growth Potential of New Firms: Which Tech Businesses Will Thrive?

Feb. 5, 2015 — New businesses spring up all the time in the U.S. But which ones have the greatest ability to become big? A new method based on an empirical study, projects the growth potential of high-tech firms ... full story

STEM Education; Educational Policy; Spintronics Research; Artificial Intelligence

Teachers Become Healthier When They Learn

Mar. 2, 2015 — Several studies have indicated a connection between learning and health. Researchers have now found that the health of school teachers is related to their level of work integrated ... full story

Educational Psychology; Workplace Health; Staying Healthy; K-12 Education

Teacher Prejudices Put Girls Off Math, Science, Study Suggests

Feb. 26, 2015 — Although higher education has already opened the door to equal opportunities for women and minorities in the US in the math and science professions, a new study suggests that elementary school ... full story

K-12 Education; Educational Policy; STEM Education; Educational Psychology

Biology Teachers: Understanding Faith, Teaching Evolution Not Mutually Exclusive

Feb. 25, 2015 — Discussing the relationship between science and faith, rather than avoiding the discussion, may better prepare future high school biology teachers for anticipating questions about evolution, ... full story

Biology; Educational Policy; STEM Education; Evolutionary Biology

Education 'Experts' Cited in News Stories May Lack Expertise, Study Finds

Feb. 20, 2015 — A study of education experts cited in news stories and blogs during 2013 finds that some lack background in education policy and ... full story

STEM Education; K-12 Education; Education and Employment; Media and Entertainment

Delaying Children's School Entry Linked to Poor Academic Performance

Feb. 19, 2015 — Delaying school entry for children could cause poorer academic performance, according to new research. Many parents are keen to hold their children back a year if they were born prematurely or in the ... full story

K-12 Education; Child Psychology; Educational Psychology; Learning Disorders

Teens Increasingly Sleep Deprived

Feb. 16, 2015 — A new study found that female students, racial/ethnic minorities, and students of lower socioeconomic status are less likely to report regularly getting seven or more hours of sleep each night ... full story

Insomnia Research; Sleep Disorder Research; Sleep Disorders; Insomnia

Learning With All the Senses: Movement, Images Facilitate Vocabulary Learning

Feb. 5, 2015 — "Atesi" -- what sounds like a word from the Elven language of Lord of the Rings is actually a Vimmish word meaning "thought". Scientists have used Vimmish, an artificial language specifically ... full story

Language Acquisition; Learning Disorders; Intelligence; Dyslexia

Public and Scientists Express Strikingly Different Views About Science-Related Issues

Jan. 29, 2015 — Despite similar views about the overall place of science in America, the general public and scientists often see science-related issues through a different lens, according to a new pair of ... full story

STEM Education; Environmental Awareness; Earth Science; K-12 Education

Can Synesthesia Be Taught? Colored Letters, Tasty Sounds?

Jan. 29, 2015 — Can synesthesia have cognitive benefits and can it be taught? There are over 60 known types of synesthesia, a condition in which stimulation of one sense, such as taste, leads to automatic, ... full story

Perception; Educational Psychology; Language Acquisition; Disorders and Syndromes

Concentrating on Word Sounds Helps Reading Instruction and Intervention

Jan. 28, 2015 — A neuroimaging study by psychologist suggests that phonics shouldn't be overlooked in favor of a whole-language technique, a finding that could help improve treatment and diagnosis of common reading ... full story

Learning Disorders; Dyslexia; Language Acquisition; Literacy

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