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

Monster Black Hole Discovered at Cosmic Dawn

Feb. 25, 2015 — The discovery of the brightest quasar in the early universe, powered by the most massive black hole yet known at that time presents a puzzle to researchers: How could something so massive and ... full story

Astronomy; Black Holes; Astrophysics; Galaxies; Space Telescopes; Cosmology

Physicists Offer a Solution to the Puzzle of the Origin of Matter in the Universe

Feb. 25, 2015 — Most of the laws of nature treat particles and antiparticles equally, but stars and planets are made of particles, or matter, and not antiparticles, or antimatter. That asymmetry, which favors matter ... full story

Quantum Physics; Physics; Big Bang; Cosmology; Astrophysics; Inorganic Chemistry

First Direct Observation of Carbon Dioxide's Increasing Greenhouse Effect at Earth's Surface

Feb. 25, 2015 — Scientists have observed an increase in carbon dioxide's greenhouse effect at Earth's surface for the first time. They measured atmospheric carbon dioxide's increasing capacity to ... full story

Atmosphere; Energy and the Environment; Renewable Energy; Environmental Issues; Environmental Science; Climate

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; New Species; Fish

Bionic Reconstruction Lets Patients Use a Robotic Prosthetic Hand Controlled by the Mind

Feb. 24, 2015 — Three Austrian men have become the first in the world to undergo a new technique called "bionic reconstruction", enabling them to use a robotic prosthetic hand controlled by their mind, ... full story

Disability; Neural Interfaces; Back and Neck Pain; Robotics; Accident and Trauma; Smoking

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; Cosmology; Stars

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; Stars; Space Telescopes

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; Space Exploration; Cosmology

One Brain Area, Two Planning Strategies

Feb. 26, 2015 — Ready to strike, the spear fisherman holds his spear above the water surface. He aims at the fish. But he is misled by the view: Due to the refraction of light on the surface, he does not see the ... full story

Perception; Neuroscience; Brain Injury; Brain-Computer Interfaces; Monkeys; Disorders and Syndromes

Widely Used Food Additives Promotes Colitis, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome, Shows Study of Emulsifiers

Feb. 25, 2015 — Emulsifiers, which are added to most processed foods to aid texture and extend shelf life, can alter the gut microbiota composition and localization to induce intestinal inflammation that promotes ... full story

Colitis; Gastrointestinal Problems; Crohn's Disease; Mice; Immune System; Diet and Weight Loss

Agricultural Insecticides Pose a Global Risk to Surface Water Bodies, Researchers Find

Feb. 25, 2015 — Streams within approximately 40 percent of the global land surface are at risk from the application of insecticides. These were the results from the first global map to be modeled on insecticide ... full story

Land Management; Environmental Issues; Environmental Policies; Geography; Water; Resource Shortage

Easy on the Eyes: Optimum Length of Eyelashes Is One Third Width of Eye

Feb. 24, 2015 — A new study finds that the optimal eyelash length is one-third the width of the eye for humans and 21 other mammals. Anything shorter or longer increases airflow around the eye and leads to more dust ... full story

Eye Care; Cosmetic Surgery; Dogs; Cosmetics; Disability; New Species

Tissue Engineering: Scientists Grow Leg Muscle from Cells in a Dish

Feb. 24, 2015 — Scientists have generated mature, functional skeletal muscles in mice using a new approach for tissue engineering. The scientists grew a leg muscle starting from engineered cells cultured in a dish ... full story

Biology; Fibromyalgia; Stem Cells; Muscular Dystrophy; Life Sciences; Fitness

Neuroscientists Literally Change the Way We Think: Advantages of a Wandering Mind

Feb. 23, 2015 — Does your mind wander when performing monotonous, repetitive tasks? Of course! But daydreaming involves more than just beating back boredom. In fact, according to a new study, a wandering mind can ... full story

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

Yellowstone: Geysers Erupt Periodically Because They Have Loops in Their Plumbing

Feb. 24, 2015 — Volcanologists threaded sensors and cameras into the superheated water of geysers in Chile and Yellowstone, and have come up with an explanation for why geysers erupt periodically. They've even ... full story

Volcanoes; Water; Natural Disasters; Drought Research; Environmental Issues; Pollution

Can Coffee Reduce Your Risk of MS?

Feb. 26, 2015 — Drinking coffee may be associated with a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new ... full story

Healthy Aging; Staying Healthy; Elder Care; Chronic Illness

Type 2 Diabetes, Fatty Liver Disease Reversed in Rats

Feb. 26, 2015 — A controlled-release oral therapy has been developed by scientists that reversed type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease in rats, according to a study. "Given these promising results in animal models ... full story

Diabetes; Liver Disease; Chronic Illness; Diseases and Conditions

Asian Herb Holds Promise as Treatment for Ebola Virus Disease

Feb. 26, 2015 — New research focuses on the mechanism by which Ebola virus infects a cell and the discovery of a promising drug therapy candidate. A small molecule called Tetrandrine derived from an Asian herb has ... full story

Ebola; Virology; Viruses; HIV and AIDS

Method for Mapping Neuron Clusters Developed

Feb. 26, 2015 — A method for identifying clusters of neurons that work in concert to guide the behavior has been developed by researchers. Their findings address a long-standing mystery about the organization of the ... full story

Nervous System; Neuroscience; Brain Injury; Psychology Research

GLP-1 Secretion Is Reduced in Overweight, Pre-Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes

Feb. 26, 2015 — The world's largest study looking at the secretion of the gut hormone GLP-1 has found that the secretion is reduced among overweight and obese people, people with pre-diabetes and newly diagnosed ... full story

Diabetes; Hormone Disorders; Personalized Medicine; Chronic Illness

Moffitt Researchers Identify Protein Pathway Involved in Brain Tumor Stem Cell Growth

Feb. 26, 2015 — Glioblastomas are a highly aggressive type of brain tumor, with few effective treatment options. Researchers are one step closer to understanding glioblastoma development following the identification ... full story

Brain Tumor; Stem Cells; Prostate Cancer; Lung Cancer

Could Squirmy Livestock Dent Africa's Protein Deficit?

Feb. 26, 2015 — Two graduate students are working to introduce highly productive kits for farming mealworms to regions such as sub-Saharan Africa where eating insects is already culturally palatable. They are just ... full story

Agriculture and Food; Food and Agriculture; Insects (including Butterflies); Organic

Chemo Before Breast Cancer Operation Increases Likelihood of Breast-Preserving Procedure

Feb. 26, 2015 — Patients with larger malignant tumors of the breast who undergo chemotherapy before a breast cancer operation are more likely to opt for a breast-preserving procedure and forgo a mastectomy (surgical ... full story

Breast Cancer; Colon Cancer; Women's Health; Lung Cancer

Persistent Insomnia, Increased Mortality Risk: Link Found by Researchers

Feb. 26, 2015 — A connection between persistent insomnia and increased inflammation and mortality has been identified by a group of researchers. Their study found that people who suffer from persistent insomnia are ... full story

Sleep Disorders; Insomnia Research; Sleep Disorder Research; Insomnia

Twin Study Lends New Insights Into Link Between Back Pain and Depression

Feb. 26, 2015 — Genetic factors help to explain the commonly found association between low back pain and depression, suggests a large study of twins. Genetic factors affecting both conditions may be involved in the ... full story

Back and Neck Pain; Pain Control; Workplace Health; Depression

Neurons That Help Predict What Another Individual Will Do Identified

Feb. 26, 2015 — Investigators have discovered two groups of neurons that play key roles in social interactions between primates -- one that is activated when deciding whether to cooperate with another individual and ... full story

Psychology; Social Psychology; Autism; Relationships

Bumblebees Make False Memories Too

Feb. 26, 2015 — It's well known that our human memory can fail us. People can be forgetful, and they can sometimes also 'remember' things incorrectly, with devastating consequences in the classroom, courtroom, and ... full story

Memory; Intelligence; Educational Psychology; Animal Learning and Intelligence

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

Thinking of God Makes People Bigger Risk-Takers, Study Suggests

Feb. 26, 2015 — Reminders of God can make people more likely to seek out and take risks, according to research. The findings suggest that people are willing to take these risks because they view God as providing ... full story

Spirituality; Religion; Behavior; Perception

Emergency Doctors and Paramedics Commonly Misinterpret Documents for End-of-Life Care Choices, Study Finds

Feb. 26, 2015 — Emergency care providers vary in their understanding of a type of medical order intended to communicate seriously ill patients' choices for life-sustaining treatments, according to a pair of studies ... full story

Today's Healthcare; Patient Education and Counseling; Wounds and Healing; Health Policy

Optogenetic Stimulation of the Brain to Control Pain Demonstrated in Study

Feb. 26, 2015 — New research reveals for the first time how a small area of the brain can be optically stimulated to control pain. Researchers found that by using specific frequency of light to modulate a very small ... full story

Pain Control; Fibromyalgia; Neuropathy; Joint Pain

Criminologist's Study Shows Lack of Mental Health Care for Prisoners

Feb. 26, 2015 — A substantial number of prison inmates have not received treatment for mental health conditions, a expert claims. The study recommends that prisons prioritize the use of validated screening ... full story

Mental Health; Mental Health Research; Chronic Illness; Depression

Sticky Protein Hails New Approach for Treating Parkinson's

Feb. 25, 2015 — UK scientists have developed a peptide that sticks to the protein that causes Parkinson's disease, stopping it from killing brain cells. The research highlights a potential new route for slowing the ... full story

Parkinson's Research; Parkinson's; Chronic Illness; Caregiving

Study Maps Extroversion Types in the Brain's Anatomy

Feb. 25, 2015 — Scientists have mapped the similarities and the differences in the brain between the two different kinds of extroverts: 'Agentic' go-getters and 'affiliative' people ... full story

Intelligence; Neuroscience; Psychology; Brain-Computer Interfaces

One in 3 Women Could Potentially Be Spared Chronic Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery

Feb. 25, 2015 — One in every three women undergoing a mastectomy could potentially be spared chronic post-operative pain if anesthesiologists used a regional anesthetic technique in combination with standard care, ... full story

Pain Control; Neuropathy; Fibromyalgia; Joint Pain

Bariatric Surgery Affects Risk of Pregnancy Complications

Feb. 25, 2015 — Bariatric surgery has both a positive and negative influence on the risk of complications during subsequent pregnancy and delivery, concludes a new study. The results indicate that maternal health ... full story

Pregnancy and Childbirth; Obesity; Diet and Weight Loss; Gynecology

The £180 Billion Bill for Living in a Material World: Material Lifestyles Not Making Us Happier

Feb. 25, 2015 — Our modern material lifestyles are failing to make us happier, damaging our health, are no longer sustainable and cost the overall economy tens of billions of pounds every ... full story

Health Policy; Public Health; Diseases and Conditions; Chronic Illness

Breakfast Habits Affect Teens' Metabolic Responses to Protein-Packed Morning Meals

Feb. 25, 2015 — A researcher compared young women who habitually skip breakfast to those who routinely eat breakfast and found that their metabolic responses to eating a high-protein breakfast were different. ... full story

Diet and Weight Loss; Nutrition; Obesity; Cholesterol

Oat Breakfast Cereals May Contain a Common Mold-Related Toxin

Feb. 25, 2015 — Oats are often touted for boosting heart health, but scientists warn that the grain and its products might need closer monitoring for potential mold contamination. They report that some oat-based ... full story

Food; Food and Agriculture; Agriculture and Food; Diseases and Conditions

More Than Two Hours of TV a Day Increases High Blood Pressure Risk in Children by 30%

Feb. 25, 2015 — A study on European children concludes that spending more than two hours a day in front of a screen increases the probability of high blood pressure by 30%. The article also points out that doing no ... full story

Hypertension; Heart Disease; Cholesterol; Blood Clots

Is Your Busy Schedule Affecting Your Health? Time Might Not Be the Problem

Feb. 25, 2015 — The modern schedule is infamously frantic, leaving many of us feeling constantly pressed for time. But that feeling may not have much to do with time itself, according to a new study. "Feeling ... full story

Anxiety; Stress; Travel and Recreation; Disorders and Syndromes

Warning on Use of Drug for Children's Sleep

Feb. 25, 2015 — Sleep researchers are warning doctors and parents not to provide the drug melatonin to children to help control their sleep ... full story

Insomnia Research; Sleep Disorder Research; Insomnia; Sleep Disorders

Meditation Can Reduce Chronic Neck Pain, Study Shows

Feb. 25, 2015 — Meditation might be an effective treatment for reducing chronic neck pain, according to research. Chronic neck pain can lead to serious comorbidities like depression. Patients with chronic neck pain ... full story

Pain Control; Fibromyalgia; Back and Neck Pain; Neuropathy

Playful Adults Preferred in Choice of Partner

Feb. 25, 2015 — Which characteristics do young adults value in a potential partner for long-term relationships? A new study reveals that, besides friendliness, intelligence and a sense of humor, playfulness is also ... full story

Gender Difference; Relationships; Racial Issues; Social Psychology

Marine Oil Supplement Has Positive Effects on Post-Exercise Muscle Damage

Feb. 24, 2015 — There may be a greater connection between mussels and muscles than previously thought. A new study has found that taking a pre-exercise supplement of the omega-3 PCSO-524, a marine oil lipid derived ... full story

Fitness; Fibromyalgia; Joint Pain; Men's Health

Top-Precision Optical Atomic Clock Starts Ticking

Feb. 26, 2015 — A state-of-the-art optical atomic clock is now 'ticking away.' As the first of its kind in Poland and one of just a handful of clocks of this caliber in the world, the new clock will keep track of ... full story

Physics; Optics; Telecommunications; Quantum Physics

Caging of Molecules Allows Investigation of Equilibrium Thermodynamics

Feb. 26, 2015 — High performance materials for gas storage, thermal insulators or nanomachines need a thorough understanding of the behavior of the material down to the molecular level. Thermodynamics, which have ... full story

Organic Chemistry; Chemistry; Nature of Water; Nanotechnology

Building Blocks of the Future Defy Logic: New Logic-Defying Mathematical Model

Feb. 26, 2015 — Wake up in the morning and stretch; your midsection narrows. Pull on a rubber band and it becomes thinner. One might assume that materials will always stretch and thin. Wrong. Thanks to their ... full story

Materials Science; Engineering and Construction; Civil Engineering; Chemistry

New Research Predicts When, How Materials Will Act

Feb. 26, 2015 — A material might melt or snap in half. And for engineers, knowing when and why that might happen is crucial information. Now, a researcher has laid out an overarching theory that explains why certain ... full story

Materials Science; Civil Engineering; Engineering and Construction; Nanotechnology

New X-Ray Microscope for Nanoscale Imaging

Feb. 26, 2015 — A new microscope at the Hard X-ray Nanoprobe will ultimately deliver nanoscale resolution imaging for everything from proteins to fuel cell ... full story

Nanotechnology; Detectors; Physics; Materials Science

Superatomic Nickel Core and Unusual Molecular Reactivity

Feb. 26, 2015 — Scientists have revealed a unique molecular fragment Ni2O2, consisting of two nickel atoms and two oxygen atoms, that have shown plausible superatomic properties. Supeatoms are important structural ... full story

Chemistry; Organic Chemistry; Materials Science; Inorganic Chemistry

Optical Features Embedded in Marine Shells May Help Develop Responsive, Transparent Displays

Feb. 26, 2015 — The blue-rayed limpet is a tiny mollusk that lives in kelp beds along the coasts of Norway, Iceland, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and the Canary Islands. These diminutive organisms -- as small as a ... full story

Optics; Marine Biology; Civil Engineering; Engineering and Construction

Simple Way to Make and Reconfigure Complex Emulsions

Feb. 25, 2015 — Researchers have devised a new way to make complex liquid mixtures, known as emulsions, that could have many applications in drug delivery, sensing, cleaning up pollutants, and performing chemical ... full story

Nature of Water; Chemistry; Organic Chemistry; Energy and Resources

Clusters of Aluminum Metal Atoms Become Superconductive at Surprisingly High Temperatures

Feb. 25, 2015 — Clusters of atoms known as 'superatoms' represent an entirely new family of superconductors -- one that appears to work at temperatures well above standard ... full story

Spintronics; Physics; Spintronics Research; Thermodynamics

Bending a Highly Energetic Electron Beam With Crystal

Feb. 25, 2015 — Scientists have demonstrated that a bent silicon crystal can bend the paths of focused, very energetic electron beams much more than magnets used today. The method could be of interest for particle ... full story

Graphene; Spintronics; Physics; Quantum Physics

SOHO Sees Something New Near the Sun: Comet Survives Close Encounter

Feb. 24, 2015 — An unusual comet skimmed past the sun on Feb 18-21, 2015, as captured by the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, or ... full story

Asteroids, Comets and Meteors; Sun; Astronomy; Solar Flare

Mars Exploration: NASA's MAVEN Spacecraft Completes First Deep Dip Campaign

Feb. 19, 2015 — NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution has completed the first of five deep-dip maneuvers designed to gather measurements closer to the lower end of the Martian upper ... full story

Mars; Space Probes; Space Missions; Space Exploration

Giving Shape to Black Holes' Intense Winds

Feb. 19, 2015 — By looking at the speed of ambient gas spewing out from a well-known quasar, astronomers are gaining insight into how black holes and their host galaxies might have evolved at the same ... full story

Black Holes; Galaxies; Astrophysics; Astronomy

Scientists Identify Mineral That Destroys Organic Compounds, With Implications for Mars Curiosity Mission

Feb. 19, 2015 — Scientists have discovered that the mineral jarosite breaks down organic compounds when it is flash-heated, with implications for Mars research. Jarosite is an iron sulphate and it is one of several ... full story

Mars; Space Missions; NASA; Solar System

Hubble Gets Best View of a Circumstellar Debris Disk Distorted by a Planet

Feb. 19, 2015 — Astronomers have used the Hubble Space Telescope to take the most detailed picture to date of a large, edge-on, gas-and-dust disk encircling the 20-million-year-old star Beta Pictoris. The new image ... full story

Space Telescopes; Extrasolar Planets; Astronomy; Galaxies

A New View of the Solar System: Astrophysical Jets Driven by the Sun

Feb. 19, 2015 — New research suggests that the sun's magnetic field controls the large-scale shape of the heliosphere much more than expected. The new model shows that the magnetic field squeezes the solar wind ... full story

Sun; Solar Flare; Astronomy; Northern Lights

Higgs Mode in Superconducting Materials: Tabletop Technique for Examining Physics' Most Celebrated Missing Link

Feb. 19, 2015 — The Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the Higgs boson -- the 'God particle' believed responsible for all the mass in the universe -- took place in 2012 at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. The first hint ... full story

Physics; Quantum Physics; Astrophysics; Nuclear Energy

Classical Nova Explosions Are Major Lithium Factories in the Universe

Feb. 19, 2015 — Astronomers observed Nova Delphini 2013 which occurred on August 14, 2013. They discovered that the outburst is producing a large amount of lithium (Li). Lithium is a key element in the study of the ... full story

Astrophysics; Cosmology; Nebulae; Big Bang

Does Dark Matter Cause Mass Extinctions and Geologic Upheavals?

Feb. 19, 2015 — New research concludes that Earth's infrequent but predictable path around and through our Galaxy's disc may have a direct and significant effect on geological and biological phenomena occurring on ... full story

Dark Matter; Geology; Earth Science; Asteroids, Comets and Meteors

Searching for Signs of a Force from the 'Dark Side' in Particle Collisions

Feb. 19, 2015 — Scientists searching for signs of elusive “dark photons” as an explanation for an anomaly in a groundbreaking physics experiment have nearly ruled out their ... full story

Dark Matter; Quantum Physics; Astrophysics; Sun

Parkinson's Disease Patients Have Reduced Visual Contrast Acuity

Feb. 25, 2015 — An iPad<sup>®</sup> application has been developed that can help physicians screen for Parkinson's Disease, report researchers. Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) often have difficulties with ... full story

Eye Care; Medical Devices; Parkinson's Research; Cholesterol

Uncertainties Must Be Taken Into Account in Fisheries Stock Assessment

Feb. 25, 2015 — Fisheries stock assessment provides information on the status of fish stocks and the impact of fishing on stock development. Since no direct information on fish stock size or fishing mortality rates ... full story

Computer Modeling; Mathematical Modeling; Fish; Information Technology

Novel Computer Model Designed to Understand Cardiovascular Diseases

Feb. 25, 2015 — A novel three-dimensional, multiscale and multicomponent model of endothelial cells monolayer, the inner lining of artery, has been developed by researchers to identify the cellular mechanisms ... full story

Computer Modeling; Mathematical Modeling; Heart Disease; Mathematics

Sensor-Packed Smartphones Can Read Your Mood, Guard Your Data, and Wreak Havoc in the Wrong Hands

Feb. 24, 2015 — Smartphones have replaced nearly every conceivable gadget, but computer scientists are teaching them some new tricks. The researchers are adapting accelerometers, GPS chips, gyroscopes and other ... full story

Mobile Computing; Hacking; Computers and Internet; Encryption

Dendrite Eraser: New Electrolyte Rids Batteries of Short-Circuiting Fibers

Feb. 24, 2015 — A new electrolyte allows rechargeable batteries to operate well without growing dendrites, tiny pin-like fibers that short-circuit rechargeable ... full story

Batteries; Fuel Cells; Energy and Resources; Alternative Fuels

Optical Nanoantennas Set the Stage for a NEMS Lab-on-a-Chip Revolution

Feb. 24, 2015 — Newly developed tiny antennas, likened to spotlights on the nanoscale, offer the potential to measure food safety, identify pollutants in the air and even quickly diagnose and treat cancer, according ... full story

Optics; Nanotechnology; Microarrays; Physics

Cyberbystanders: Most Don't Try to Stop Online Bullies

Feb. 24, 2015 — In a new study, 221 college students participated in an online chat room in which they watched a fellow student get “bullied” right before their eyes. Only 10 percent of the students who noticed ... full story

Communications; Anger Management; Educational Technology; Encryption

Building Tailor-Made DNA Nanotubes Step by Step

Feb. 23, 2015 — Researchers have developed a new, low-cost method to build DNA nanotubes block by block -- a breakthrough that could help pave the way for scaffolds made from DNA strands to be used in applications ... full story

Nanotechnology; Organic Chemistry; Biochemistry Research; Graphene

Your Privacy Online: Health Information at Serious Risk of Abuse, Researchers Warn

Feb. 23, 2015 — There is a significant risk to your privacy whenever you visit a health-related web page, some researchers warn. An analysis of over 80,000 such web pages shows that nine out of ten visits result in ... full story

Encryption; Hacking; Internet; Information Technology

3D Printed Guides Can Help Restore Function in Damaged Nerves

Feb. 23, 2015 — Scientists have succeeded in using a 3-D printed guide to help nerves damaged in traumatic incidents repair themselves. The team used the device to repair nerve damage in animal models and say the ... full story

Neuropathy; Nervous System; Accident and Trauma; Eye Care

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)

Amphibian Chytrid Fungus Reaches Madagascar

Feb. 26, 2015 — The chytrid fungus, which is fatal to amphibians, has been detected in Madagascar for the first time. This means that the chytridiomycosis pandemic has now reached a biodiversity hotspot. Researchers ... full story

Frogs and Reptiles; Fungus; New Species; Endangered Animals

The Eyes Have It: Cats Put Sight Over Smell in Finding Food

Feb. 26, 2015 — Cats may prefer to use their eyes rather than follow their nose when it comes to finding the location of food, according to new research by leading animal ... full story

Cats; Dogs; Animals; Animal Learning and Intelligence

'Blue-Green Algae' Proliferating in Lakes

Feb. 26, 2015 — The organisms commonly known as blue-green algae have proliferated much more rapidly than other algae in lakes across North America and Europe over the past two centuries -- and in many cases the ... full story

Ecology Research; Geography; Botany; Water

Aggressive Plant Fungus Threatens Wheat Production

Feb. 26, 2015 — The spread of exotic and aggressive strains of a plant fungus is presenting a serious threat to wheat production in the UK, according to research. The research uses a new surveillance technique that ... full story

Fungus; Agriculture and Food; Food and Agriculture; Food

Research Cracks Code Governing Infections Single-Stranded RNA Viruses

Feb. 26, 2015 — Researchers have cracked a code that governs infections caused by simple, single-stranded RNA viruses similar in many respects to viruses that cause the common cold, polio and the winter vomiting ... full story

Virology; Viruses; Microbes and More; Biology

Forest Tree Seeds Stored in the Svalbard Seed Vault

Feb. 26, 2015 — A new method for the conservation of the genetic diversity of forest trees will see its launch on 26 February 2015, as forest tree seeds are for the first time stored in the Svalbard Global Seed ... full story

Trees; Seeds; Forest; Botany

Sewage Provides Insight Into Human Microbiome

Feb. 25, 2015 — Sewage is an effective means to sample the fecal bacteria from millions of people, a new study has indicated. Researchers say the information gleaned from the work provides a unique opportunity to ... full story

Bacteria; Microbes and More; Workplace Health; Microbiology

Sharp Rise in Experimental Animal Research in US

Feb. 25, 2015 — The use of animals in experimental research has soared at leading US laboratories in recent years, finds new research. This is despite growing public opposition to animal experimentation, mounting ... full story

Animals; Life Sciences; Wild Animals; Extinction

Felling of Tropical Trees Has Soared, Satellite Shows, Not Slowed as UN Study Found

Feb. 25, 2015 — The rate at which tropical forests were cut, burned or otherwise lost from the 1990s through the 2000s accelerated by 62 percent, according to a new study which dramatically reverses a previous ... full story

Rainforests; Forest; Environmental Science; Extinction

Interaction of Atlantic and Pacific Oscillations Caused 'False Pause' in Warming

Feb. 26, 2015 — The recent slowdown in climate warming is due, at least in part, to natural oscillations in the climate, according to a team of climate scientists, who add that these oscillations represent ... full story

Climate; Global Warming; Environmental Issues; Environmental Awareness

Lake Tahoe Research Provides New Insights on Global Change

Feb. 26, 2015 — A study on how natural and human-made sources of nitrogen are recycled through the Lake Tahoe ecosystem provides new information on how global change may affect the iconic blue ... full story

Ecology; Ecosystems; Geochemistry; Acid Rain

New Technology Could Make Treatment of Oil and Gas Wastewater Simpler, Cheaper

Feb. 25, 2015 — Oil and gas operations in the United States produce about 21 billion barrels of wastewater per year. The saltiness of the water and the organic contaminants it contains have traditionally made ... full story

Petroleum; Energy and Resources; Energy and the Environment; Hazardous Waste

Cellular Communication Offers Easy Fog Detection for Roads and Runways

Feb. 25, 2015 — Thick fogbanks can blanket open roads and runways and dramatically reduce visibility -- often causing devastating accidents. A new study suggests that a practical solution to fog detection can be ... full story

Telecommunications; Energy Technology; Global Warming; Environmental Issues

Learning by Eye: Silicon Micro-Funnels Increase the Efficiency of Solar Cells

Feb. 25, 2015 — A biological structure in mammalian eyes has inspired scientists to design an inorganic counterpart for use in solar cells: micron-sized vertical funnels were etched shoulder-to-shoulder in a silicon ... full story

Optics; Graphene; Nanotechnology; Solar Energy

Magnetic Nanoparticles Enhance Performance of Solar Cells

Feb. 25, 2015 — Magnetic nanoparticles can increase the performance of solar cells made from polymers -- provided the mix is right. Adding about one per cent of such nanoparticles by weight makes the solar cells ... full story

Spintronics; Solar Energy; Energy and the Environment; Renewable Energy

Climate-Warmed Leaves Change Lake Ecosystems

Feb. 25, 2015 — Rising soil temperatures significantly affect autumn leaves and consequently the food web, appearance and biochemical makeup of the lakes and ponds those leaves fall into, a new study ... full story

Ecology; Ecology Research; Environmental Issues; Ecosystems

Researchers Enable Solar Cells to Use More Sunlight

Feb. 25, 2015 — Scientists report progress in photovoltaic research: they have improved a component that will enable solar cells to use more energy of the sun and thus create a higher ... full story

Solar Energy; Energy and the Environment; Renewable Energy; Spintronics

Being Better Problem Solvers Helps Mountain Chickadees Survive at Higher Altitudes

Feb. 25, 2015 — Being better problem solvers helps mountain chickadees survive at higher altitudes. Living on harsh, unforgiving icy mountains can make one mentally sharper, and this applies to birds as well. That's ... full story

Animal Learning and Intelligence; Birds; Zoology; Nature

Himalayan Ice Shows Chemicals Ban Is Working

Feb. 25, 2015 — A unique study of frozen ice cores from the Tibetan Himalayas has shown that international agreements on phasing out the use of toxic persistent organic pollutants are working. "Chemical residues are ... full story

Ice Ages; Climate; Global Warming; Snow and Avalanches

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

Greenland Is Melting: The Past Might Tell What the Future Holds

Feb. 20, 2015 — Scientists have managed to quantify how the Greenland Ice Sheet reacted to a warm period 8,000-5,000 years ago. Back then temperatures were 2-4 degrees C warmer than they are in the present. Their ... full story

Global Warming; Climate; Ice Ages; Snow and Avalanches

Out of Africa: Did Humans Migrate Quickly and All-at-Once or in Phases Based on Weather?

Feb. 20, 2015 — Considerable debate surrounds the migration of human populations out of Africa. Two predominant hypotheses concerning the timing contrast in their emphasis on the role of the Arabian interior and its ... full story

Early Humans; Fossils; Weather; Global Warming

Animals Tend to Evolve Toward Larger Size Over Time

Feb. 19, 2015 — In one of the most comprehensive studies of body size evolution ever conducted, scientists have found fresh support for Cope's rule, a theory in biology that states that animal lineages tend to ... full story

Evolution; Evolutionary Biology; New Species; Charles Darwin

Tracing Languages Back to Their Common Ancestors Through the Statistics of Sound Shifts

Feb. 19, 2015 — A statistical technique that sorts out when changes to words’ pronunciations most likely occurred in the evolution of a language offers a renewed opportunity to trace words and languages back to ... full story

Language Acquisition; Child Development; Literacy; Tinnitus

Learning from Extinction: New Insights on Controlling Cancer

Feb. 18, 2015 — A researcher brings a paleontological view of species extinction to bear on the challenges involved in driving populations of cancer cells to annihilation -- or at least improving patient prognosis ... full story

Extinction; Cancer; Brain Tumor; Colon Cancer

Vaccine Hesitancy: Journal Collection Investigates Vaccination Decision-Making

Feb. 25, 2015 — Vaccines are thought to be one of the most successful public health measures, but some individuals are hesitant to vaccinate their families for a variety of reasons. Researchers explore individuals' ... full story

Vaccines; Mumps, Measles, Rubella; Public Health; Infectious Diseases

Consideration of Costs Can Reduce Moral Objections to Human Organ Sales and Other 'Repugnant' Transactions, Says Researcher

Feb. 25, 2015 — People might abandon their moral objections to organ selling – and to other transactions in repugnant markets -- when presented with information about the potential advantages of such sales, ... full story

Ethics; Bioethics; Today's Healthcare; Resource Shortage

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

Study Linking Suicidal Behavior, Psychotic Experiences May Yield Strategies to Help Prevent Suicide Attempts

Feb. 25, 2015 — Suicidal ideation and psychotic experiences have been studied among more than 11,000 adults 18 and older. The data were drawn from a large general-population based sample of U. S. households. Suicide ... full story

Educational Policy; Ethics; STEM Education; Public Health

Women Twice as Likely to See Pot as Risky

Feb. 25, 2015 — A study on the perceived risk of using cannabis and characteristics associated with these perceptions found that non-white, low-income women over 50 were most likely to perceive a risk in using the ... full story

Marijuana; Controlled Substances; Illegal Drugs; Educational Policy

New Look at Culture, Its Influence on Individuals, Organizations

Feb. 24, 2015 — 'Polyculturalism' offers a better lens for understanding cultural complexity and how it affects collaboration, negotiation and leadership, a new article ... full story

Social Psychology; Educational Policy; Racial Issues; Media and Entertainment

World's Protected Natural Areas Receive Eight Billion Visits a Year

Feb. 24, 2015 — Researchers say that the first study to attempt to gauge global visitation figures for protected areas reveals nature-based tourism has an economic value of hundreds of billions of dollars annually, ... full story

Land Management; Environmental Policy; Nature; Travel and Recreation

Decline in Smoking Rates May Increase Lung Cancer Mortality Due to Inadequate Screening Guidelines

Feb. 24, 2015 — A decline in smoking rates may mean that many people who could have benefited from early detection of lung cancer are dying because they don’t qualify for low-dose CT scans, according to a group of ... full story

Lung Cancer; Lung Disease; Prostate Cancer; Diseases and Conditions

Disparities in Breast Cancer Care Linked to Net Worth

Feb. 24, 2015 — Household net worth is a major and overlooked factor in adherence to hormonal therapy among breast cancer patients and partially explains racial disparities in quality of care. Several studies have ... full story

Breast Cancer; Diseases and Conditions; Today's Healthcare; Public Health

Water Fluoridation in England Linked to Higher Rates of Underactive Thyroid

Feb. 24, 2015 — Water fluoridation above a certain level is linked to 30 percent higher than expected rates of underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) in England, suggests research. Researchers point out that their ... full story

Thyroid Disease; Dentistry; Hormone Disorders; Resource Shortage

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

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

Playing With Puzzles, Blocks May Build Children's Spatial Skills

Jan. 28, 2015 — Play may seem like fun and games, but new research shows that specific kinds of play are actually associated with development of particular cognitive skills. Data from an American nationally ... full story

Numeracy; Child Psychology; Child Development; Intelligence

Students Master Math Through Movement Using Kinect for Windows

Jan. 26, 2015 — Significant gains in the understanding of angles and angle measurements by elementary school students are seen in those who performed body-based tasks while interacting with a Kinect for Windows ... full story

Educational Technology; Educational Psychology; Numeracy; K-12 Education

Girls Lead Boys in Academic Achievement Globally

Jan. 26, 2015 — Considerable attention has been paid to how boys' educational achievements in science and math compare to girls' accomplishments in those areas, often leading to the assumption that boys outperform ... full story

Gender Difference; STEM Education; Educational Policy; K-12 Education

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