ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Scientists build thinnest-possible LEDs to be stronger, more energy efficient

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 11:10 AM PDT

Scientists have built the thinnest-known LED that can be used as a source of light energy in electronics. The LED is based off of two-dimensional, flexible semiconductors, making it possible to stack or use in much smaller and more diverse applications than current technology allows.

Two-dimensional material shows promise for optoelectronics: LEDs, photovoltaic cells, and light detectors

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 08:17 AM PDT

Team creates LEDs, photovoltaic cells, and light detectors using novel one-molecule-thick material. Researchers have used a novel material that's just a few atoms thick to create devices that can harness or emit light. This proof-of-concept could lead to ultrathin, lightweight, and flexible photovoltaic cells, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and other optoelectronic devices, they say.

Synthetic biologists shine light on genetic circuit analysis

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 08:17 AM PDT

In a significant advance for the growing field of synthetic biology, bioengineers have created a toolkit of genes and hardware that uses colored lights and engineered bacteria to bring both mathematical predictability and cut-and-paste simplicity to the world of genetic circuit design.

Emotional expressions in ancient funerary art served as therapy for the bereaved

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 08:17 AM PDT

Emotional expressions on Greek tombstones from the Hellenistic period -- 323-31 B.C. -- help increase our understanding of social communication and cultural values. Despite the potential of the tombstones as a source for history of emotions, this has rarely been explored by researchers. Researchers now conclude that the illustrations and inscriptions reflect people's way of relating to death, and that the tombstone was a means to deal with the grief of losing a loved one.

Computer system simulates the behavior of tax evaders

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 08:17 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a computer model which, in different situations, simulates the behavior of taxpayers when faced with the possibility of committing tax evasion. The simulator analyzes the factors motivating tax evasion and allows to determine which measures are effective in reducing it, such as an improvement in tax inspections by increasing their frequency and efficacy.

Scents and sustainability: Renewable sources for artificial scents and flavors

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:23 AM PDT

Fresh banana, a waft of flowers, blueberry: the scents in some labs are a little sweeter than most. Researchers are engineering bacteria to make esters -- molecules widely used as scents and flavorings, and also as basic feedstock for chemical processes from paints to fuels.

Alaska the Last Frontier ... not for long

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:22 AM PDT

Alaska, the last great frontier, is being threatened by many proposals to mine an estimated 5.5 trillion tons of coal. Scientists comment on the struggle to keep Alaska untouched.

Healthy eating may reduce the risk of preterm delivery

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:22 AM PDT

In a new study, participants completed a scientifically evaluated questionnaire about what they had been eating and drinking since becoming pregnant. The results show that the group of women with the 'healthiest' pregnancy diet had a roughly 15% lower risk of preterm delivery compared with those with the most unhealthy diet. The correlation remained after controlling for ten other known risk factors for preterm delivery.

Can the solution to climate change help eliminate poverty?

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:22 AM PDT

It is clear that climate change and poverty are two separate problems that affect all corners of the world, but can the solution to one help eliminate the other? Ecosystem-based adaptation is becoming more widely recognized as a possible solution to addressing climate change. Although this program does have its setbacks and limitations, it provides a plan to combat climate change while uplifting poverty stricken communities most vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change.

Smokers' brains biased against negative images of smoking

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:22 AM PDT

What if the use of a product influenced your perception of it, making you even more susceptible to its positive aspects and altering your understanding of its drawbacks? This is precisely what happens with cigarettes in chronic smokers, according to a recent study.

Microwave radar monitors sliding slopes: Geodesists research in the Alps

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:22 AM PDT

The "Steinlehnen" slope in Northern Tyrol (Austria) started to move in 2003. Rockfalls threatened people, streets and buildings. Meanwhile, peace has returned; although the slope is merely "creeping", Steinlehnen has become an interesting research object for scientists in recent years.

Dropped your toast? Five-second food rule exists, new research suggests

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:22 AM PDT

Food picked up just a few seconds after being dropped is less likely to contain bacteria than if it is left for longer periods of time, according to new research. The findings suggest there may be some scientific basis to the '5 second rule' -- the urban myth about it being fine to eat food that has only had contact with the floor for five seconds or less. The study, undertaken by final year biology students monitored the transfer of the common bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus from a variety of indoor floor types (carpet, laminate and tiled surfaces) to toast, pasta, biscuit and a sticky sweet when contact was made from 3 to 30 seconds.

Lower IQ and poorer cardiovascular fitness in teen years increase risk of early-onset dementia

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:22 AM PDT

Men who at the age of 18 years have poorer cardiovascular fitness and/or a lower IQ more often suffer from dementia before the age of 60. This is shown in a recent study encompassing more than one million Swedish men.

Aerosols from human activities tend to weaken hurricanes and cyclones

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:17 AM PDT

Aerosols in the atmosphere produced from human activities do indeed directly affect a hurricane or tropical cyclone, but not in a way many scientists had previously believed. In fact, they tend to weaken such storms, according to a new study.

Biomolecular tweezers facilitate study of mechanical force effects on cells and proteins

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:16 AM PDT

A new type of biomolecular tweezers could help researchers study how mechanical forces affect the biochemical activity of cells and proteins. The devices use opposing magnetic and electrophoretic forces to precisely stretch the cells and molecules.

'Death stars' in Orion blast planets before they even form

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:16 AM PDT

Astronomers have studied the often deadly relationship between highly luminous O-type stars and nearby protostars in the Orion Nebula. Their data reveal that protostars within 0.1 light-years (about 600 billion miles) of an O-type star are doomed to have their cocoons of dust and gas stripped away in just a few millions years, much faster than planets are able to form.

Mapping behavior of charges in correlated spin-orbit coupled materials: Electronic disruption prods Mott insulator's conversion to metallic state

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:09 AM PDT

Physicists have mapped the inner atomic workings of a compound within the mysterious class of materials known as spin-orbit Mott insulators. The findings confirm the properties that theorists predict could lead to discoveries in superconductivity, the topological phases of matter and new forms of magnetism.

Salmon louse delay salmon returning to spawn

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:07 AM PDT

Outbreaks of salmon louse during smolt migration reduce the survival rate of the smolt and mean that salmon spend longer at sea before returning to spawn. The mortality rate among migrating smolt as a result of salmon louse corresponds to previous findings both abroad and in Norway, including over a longer time period in the Daleelva.

'Super bacteria' clean up after oil spills

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:06 AM PDT

Researchers have achieved surprising results by exploiting nature's own ability to clean up after oil spills. Scientists know that marine bacteria can assist in cleaning up after oil spills. What is surprising is that given the right kind of encouragement, they can be even more effective.

Weirdness in cosmic web of the universe: Faint strings of galaxies in 'empty' space arranged in way never before seen

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:06 AM PDT

Australian astronomers have shown galaxies in the vast empty regions of the universe are actually aligned into delicate strings, according to new research. Using data from the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey, the astronomers found that the small number of galaxies inside these voids are arranged in a new way never seen before.

Combination of sensory signals draw mosquitoes in for a bite

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 02:24 PM PDT

It may seem like mosquitoes will bite anything with a pulse, but they're actually quite strategic in picking their victims. A new study looked at the interaction of different sensory cues -- carbon dioxide, heat and odor -- that attract mosquitoes to humans, and found that it takes a combination of at least two of these to send the bugs biting.

'Tree of life' distances are no shortcut to conservation

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 02:16 PM PDT

Some conservation strategies assume that the evolutionary distances between species on a phylogenetic 'tree of life' (a branching diagram of species popularized by Charles Darwin) can be used to predict how diverse their biological features will be. These distances are then used to select which species to conserve in order to maximize interesting biological features -- such as potentially useful drug compounds and resilience to climate change. But a new analysis of data from 223 studies of animals, plants, and fungi, shows that methods based on such distances are often no better at conserving interesting biological features than picking species at random.

Atomically thin, flexible, semi-transparent solar cells created

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:05 PM PDT

A lot of research has been done on graphene recently -- carbon flakes, consisting of only one layer of atoms. As it turns out, there are other materials too which exhibit remarkable properties if they are arranged in a single layer. One of them is tungsten diselenide, which could be used for photovoltaics. Ultrathin layers made of Tungsten and Selenium have now been created; experiments show that they may be used as flexible, semi-transparent solar cells.

Spread of antibiotic resistance understood by unravelling bacterial secretion system

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:05 PM PDT

The system that allows the sharing of genetic material between bacteria -- and therefore the spread of antibiotic resistance -- has been uncovered by a team of scientists. Understanding the structure of the secretion system will help scientists uncover the mechanism by which it moves substances across the inner and outer membranes. It could eventually help scientists develop new tools for the genetic modification of human cells, as the bacteria could act as a carrier for genetic material, which could then be secreted into cells.

Mutations in leukemia gene linked to new childhood growth disorder

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:05 PM PDT

Mutations in a gene associated with leukemia cause a newly described condition that affects growth and intellectual development in children, new research reports. A study identified mutations in the DNA methyltransferase gene, DNMT3A, in 13 children.

First animals oxygenated Earth's oceans, study suggests

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:05 PM PDT

The evolution of the first animals may have oxygenated Earth's oceans -- contrary to the traditional view that a rise in oxygen triggered their development. New research contests the long held belief that oxygenation of the atmosphere and oceans was a pre-requisite for the evolution of complex life forms. The study builds on the recent work of scientists in Denmark who found that sponges -- the first animals to evolve -- require only small amounts of oxygen.

New bioinformatics tool to visualize transcriptomes

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:05 PM PDT

ZENBU, a new, freely available bioinformatics tool enables researchers to quickly and easily integrate, visualize and compare large amounts of genomic information resulting from large-scale, next-generation sequencing experiments. Next-generation sequencing has revolutionized functional genomics.

In grasslands remade by humans, animals may protect biodiversity: Grazers let in the light, rescue imperiled plants

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:05 PM PDT

A study of grasslands on six continents suggests a way to counteract the human-made overdose of fertilizer that threatens the biodiversity of the world's prairies. The solution originates in nature: let grazing animals crop fast growing grasses, which have a competitive advantage in an over-fertilized world. The grasses block sunlight from ground level, but herbivores make light available to other plants.

Four new human-made ozone depleting gases found in the atmosphere

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:05 PM PDT

Scientists at the University of East Anglia have identified four new human-made gases in the atmosphere -- all of which are contributing to the destruction of the ozone layer. New research reveals that more than 74,000 tonnes of three new chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and one new hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) have been released into the atmosphere.

Blood test identifies those at-risk for cognitive decline, Alzheimer's within three years

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:05 PM PDT

A blood test that can predict with greater than 90 percent accuracy if a healthy person will develop mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease within three years has been discovered and validated.

Can the blind 'hear' colors, shapes? Yes, show researchers

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:04 PM PDT

What if you could "hear" colors? Or shapes? These features are normally perceived visually, but using sensory substitution devices (SSDs) they can now be conveyed to the brain noninvasively through other senses. SSDs are non-invasive sensory aids that provide visual information to the blind via their existing senses. For example, using a visual-to-auditory SSD in a clinical or everyday setting, users wear a miniature camera connected to a small computer (or smart phone) and stereo headphones. The images are converted into "soundscapes," using a predictable algorithm, allowing the user to listen to and then interpret the visual information coming from the camera.

Sun's energy influences 1,000 years of natural climate variability in North Atlantic

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:04 PM PDT

Changes in the sun's energy output may have led to marked natural climate change in Europe over the last 1,000 years, according to researchers. The study found that changes in the sun's activity can have a considerable impact on the ocean-atmospheric dynamics in the North Atlantic, with potential effects on regional climate.

Stem cell study opens door to undiscovered world of biology

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:03 PM PDT

For the first time, researchers have shown that an essential biological process known as protein synthesis can be studied in adult stem cells -- something scientists have long struggled to accomplish. Many diseases, including degenerative diseases and certain types of cancers, are associated with mutations in the machinery that makes proteins. However, why this is the case has yet to be understood. Discoveries such as this raise the possibility that changes in protein synthesis are necessary for the development of those diseases.

New tool to unravel mysteries of metastasis created

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:03 PM PDT

Kinases are proteins that play vital roles in disease, but scientists have struggled to study how they interact in real time. A team of scientists has now developed a new technique to make these interactions occur and then watch them in real time to reveal some underlying causes of metastasis.

New guidelines employ a team approach to autism diagnosis, care

Posted: 08 Mar 2014 06:55 AM PST

Improving diagnosis and treatment for individuals with autism has been the focus of a growing body of research. New information from these studies led the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to revise key parameters for evaluating and treating autism. Researchers have published the new practice parameters, which stress a team approach to managing the disease.

Education 'protects' poor women from fattening effects of rising wealth

Posted: 08 Mar 2014 06:54 AM PST

Obesity levels among women in low- and middle-income countries tend to rise in line with wealth as they purchase more energy-dense foods, but a new study suggests that more educated consumers make better food choices that mitigate this effect. The study showed that in middle-income countries, obesity levels among women with secondary or higher education are 14-19% lower than less-educated women of similar wealth. The study showed that in middle-income countries, obesity levels among women with secondary or higher education are 14-19 percent lower than less-educated women of similar wealth.