ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Fossil of ancient multicellular life sets evolutionary timeline back 60 million years

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 06:18 PM PDT

Geobiologists shed new light on multicellular fossils from a time 60 million years before a vast growth spurt of life known as the Cambrian Explosion occurred on Earth.

Think you have Alzheimer's? You just might be right, study says

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 06:18 PM PDT

New research suggests that people who notice their memory is slipping may be on to something. The research appears to confirm that self-reported memory complaints are strong predictors of clinical memory impairment later in life.

Biochar alters water flow to improve sand and clay

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 01:05 PM PDT

New research could help settle questions about one of biochar's biggest benefits -- the seemingly contradictory ability to make clay soils drain faster and sandy soils drain slower.

'Skin-like' device monitors cardiovascular and skin health

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 12:39 PM PDT

A new wearable medical device can quickly alert a person if they are having cardiovascular trouble or if it's simply time to put on some skin moisturizer, researchers report. The small device, approximately five centimeters square, can be placed directly on the skin and worn 24/7 for around-the-clock health monitoring. The wireless technology uses thousands of tiny liquid crystals on a flexible substrate to sense heat. When the device turns color, the wearer knows something is awry.

Bacterial 'communication system' could be used to stop, kill cancer cells, study finds

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:50 AM PDT

A molecule used as a communication system by bacteria can be manipulated to prevent cancer cells from spreading, a study has demonstrated. "During an infection, bacteria release molecules which allow them to 'talk' to each other," said the lead author of the study. "Depending on the type of molecule released, the signal will tell other bacteria to multiply, escape the immune system or even stop spreading."

New insights into flow and incision in bedrock-rivers

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:50 AM PDT

Scientists studying river flow in bedrock canyons for the first time have discovered that previous conceptions of flow and incision in bedrock-rivers are wrong.

A way to kill chemo-resistant ovarian cancer cells: Cut down its protector

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:50 AM PDT

Ovarian cancer is the most deadly gynecological cancer, claiming the lives of more than 50 percent of women who are diagnosed with the disease. A new study provides new insight into why ovarian cancer is often resistant to chemotherapy, as well as a potential way to improve its diagnosis and treatment.

New dinosaur from New Mexico has relatives in Alberta

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

A newly discovered armored dinosaur from New Mexico has close ties to the dinosaurs of Alberta, say paleontologists. From 76 to 66 million years ago, Alberta was home to at least five species of ankylosaurid dinosaurs, the group that includes club-tailed giants like Ankylosaurus. But fewer ankylosaurids are known from the southern parts of North America. The new species, Ziapelta sanjuanensis, was discovered in 2011 in the Bisti/De-na-zin Wilderness area of New Mexico by a team from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science and the State Museum of Pennsylvania.

Realizing the promise of education: An effective early intervention program for substance exposed babies and toddlers

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

Two decades after its initiation, a program launched for substance-exposed babies and toddlers demonstrates long-term success. The program is designed to help children from birth to three years of age who are developmentally delayed, prenatally exposed to drugs and often with the additional risk of maltreatment, ultimately achieve their developmental milestones and be ready to enter kindergarten ready to learn.

Colorado's Front Range fire severity not much different than past

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

The perception that Colorado's Front Range wildfires are becoming increasingly severe does not hold much water scientifically, according to a massive new study.

Brain scans reveal 'gray matter' differences in media multitaskers

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

Simultaneously using mobile phones, laptops and other media devices could be changing the structure of our brains, according to new research. People who frequently use several media devices at the same time have lower grey-matter density in one particular region of the brain compared to those who use just one device occasionally.

Stem cells used to learn how common mutation in Asians affects heart health

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

Over 500 million people worldwide carry a genetic mutation that disables a common metabolic protein called ALDH2. The mutation, which predominantly occurs in people of East Asian descent, leads to an increased risk of heart disease and poorer outcomes after a heart attack.

Immune activity shortly after surgery holds big clue to recovery rate

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

The millions of people who undergo major surgery each year have no way of knowing how long it will take them to recover from the operation. Some will feel better within days. For others, it will take a month or more. Right now, doctors can't tell patients which category they'll fit into. Now, researcher have discovered that the activity level of a small set of immune cells during the first 24 hours after surgery provides strong clues to how quickly patients will bounce back.

Evolution of snake courtship and combat behavior

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

A small study suggests snakes may have developed courtship and male-to-male combat behavior, such as moving undulations, neck biting, and spur-poking, over time.

Eyeless Mexican cavefish eliminate circadian rhythm to save energy

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

The Mexican tetra fish has two variants, a fully-eyed fish living close to the surface and a blind, deep water, cave-dwelling fish. Scientists in this study used these two fish to study evolutionary adaptation in fish residing in near or total darkness.

Most metal-poor star hints at universe's first supernovae

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:50 AM PDT

In a new study, researchers point out that the elemental abundance of the most iron-poor star can be explained by elements ejected from supernova explosions of the universe's first stars. This reveals that massive stars, which are several tens of times more immense than the Sun, were present among the first stars.

Clear skies on exo-Neptune: Smallest exoplanet ever found to have water vapor

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:50 AM PDT

Astronomers have discovered clear skies and steamy water vapor on a planet outside our Solar System. The planet, known as HAT-P-11b, is about the size of Neptune, making it the smallest exoplanet ever on which water vapor has been detected.

Alzheimer's patients can still feel emotion long after memories have vanished

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:50 AM PDT

A new study further supports an inescapable message: caregivers have a profound influence -- good or bad -- on the emotional state of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Patients may not remember a recent visit by a loved one or having been neglected by staff at a nursing home, but those actions can have a lasting impact on how they feel.

Single statistic can strengthen public support for traffic safety laws

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:50 AM PDT

Public support for effective road safety laws, already solid, can be strengthened by a single number: a statistic that quantifies the traffic-related injury risks associated with a given law, according to a new study.

Drivers, don't trade in your smartphone for Google Glass yet

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:49 AM PDT

Texting while driving with Google Glass is clearly a distraction, a new study has concluded -- but there is a twist. In the study, texting Glass users outperformed smartphone users when regaining control of their vehicles after a traffic incident.

Indian scientists significantly more religious than UK scientists

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:49 AM PDT

Indian scientists are significantly more religious than United Kingdom scientists, according to the first cross-national study of religion and spirituality among scientists.

Modest acute changes in cardiac biomarkers, electrocardiogram findings following thoracic radiation therapy

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:49 AM PDT

There were only modest acute changes in cardiac biomarkers and electrocardiograms and there were no clinically significant cardiac events in patients with high-dose radiation exposure to the heart following thoracic radiation therapy and short-term follow-up, a study has concluded.

Less costly to screen for, treat early-stage lung than to treat late-stage lung cancer

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:49 AM PDT

The average cost to screen high-risk individuals for developing lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography plus the average cost of curative intent treatment, like surgery, is lower than the average cost to treat advanced stage lung cancer, which quite rarely results in a cure.

Costs of ACA health insurance in Texas vary significantly depending on income

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:49 AM PDT

The cost of monthly premiums for health insurance plans for Texans under the Affordable Care Act can vary by hundreds of dollars, depending on a person's income and the level of coverage chosen, according to a report.

Pain keeps surgery patients awake, extends hospital stay, study finds

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:46 AM PDT

Pain can make it difficult for some patients to get a good night's rest while recovering in the hospital following certain surgical procedures, often resulting in longer hospital stays, according to researchers.

Diabetes researchers urge for new screening and management approach

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:46 AM PDT

Treating patients with prediabetes as if they had diabetes could help prevent or delay the most severe complications associated with this chronic disease, experts say. The researchers say that by not devising a treatment strategy for people with prediabetes, doctors run the risk of creating a pool of future patients with high blood sugar who then become more likely to develop serious complications, such as kidney disease, blindness, amputations, and heart disease.

Skin coloring of rhesus macaque monkeys linked to breeding success, new study shows

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT

Skin color displayed amongst one species of monkey provides a key indicator of how successfully they will breed, a new study has shown. The collaborative international research also shows that skin coloration in male and female rhesus macaques is an inherited quality -- the first example of heritability for a sexually-selected trait to be described in any mammal.

Modest effect of statins on diabetes risk, bodyweight related to mechanism of action

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT

The mechanism by which statins increase the risk of type 2 diabetes has been investigated in a large-scale analysis from an international team led by researchers, using information from genetic studies and clinical trials.

New analysis of human genetic history reveals female dominance

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT

Female populations have been larger than male populations throughout human history, according to new research. The research used a new technique to obtain higher quality paternal genetic information to analyze the demographic history of males and females in worldwide populations.

New anti-cancer peptide vaccines and inhibitors developed

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT

Two new anticancer peptide vaccines and two peptide inhibitors have been developed as part of a larger peptide immunotherapy effort. The vaccines and inhibitors are designed to target the HER-3 and IGF-1R receptors, which are over-expressed in cancers of the breast, pancreas, esophagus and colon.

Alcohol consumption influenced by genes, research shows

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT

How people perceive and taste alcohol depends on genetic factors, and that influences whether they 'like' and consume alcoholic beverages, according to researchers. In the first study to show that the sensations from sampled alcohol vary as a function of genetics, researchers focused on three chemosensory genes -- two bitter-taste receptor genes known as TAS2R13 and TAS2R38 and a burn receptor gene, TRPV1.

Brain areas activated by itch-relieving drug identified

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT

Brain areas that respond to reward and pleasure are linked to the ability of the drug butorphanol to relieve itch, according to new research. The findings point to the involvement of the brain's opioid receptors -- known for their roles in pain, reward, and addiction -- in itch relief, potentially opening up new avenues to the development of treatments for chronic itch.

Natural gas usage will have little effect on carbon dioxide emissions, researchers find

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT

Abundant supplies of natural gas will do little to reduce harmful U.S. emissions causing climate change, according to researchers. They found that inexpensive gas boosts electricity consumption and hinders expansion of cleaner energy sources, such as wind and solar.

Novel method to synthesize nanoparticles

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT

Oxide nanoparticles have been shown to be crucial components in numerous applications to include electronic and magnetic devices, energy storage and generation, and as magnetic nanoparticles for use in magnetic resonance imaging. An important advantage of this novel method is the capability of creating bulk quantities of materials in a single step.

Enzyme discovery paves way to tackling deadly parasite diseases

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT

An enzyme found in all living things could hold the key to combating deadly diseases such as sleeping sickness, a study suggests. Researchers say this discovery creates an opportunity to design drugs that block activity of the enzyme -- known as pyruvate kinase -- in species that cause infection. Blocking the enzyme would effectively kill the parasite, without affecting the same enzyme in the patient.

Buffet pricing affects satisfaction of food

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT

Does the price you pay at a buffet influence how much you like the food? Surprisingly, yes, say researchers. A new study found that when charged more for an all-you-can-eat buffet diners rated the food higher than when charged less for the same food.

New linguistic tools can predict your dialect characteristics

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT

A new linguistic study may make it possible to more accurately predict the dialect features people use based on their demographic characteristics and where they live. In a new article, researchers used statistical modeling techniques to predict whether speakers in Tuscany use words from standard Italian or words unique to local dialects.

University health schools' use of holistic admissions has positive impact, study finds

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:35 AM PDT

A new report is the first to examine nationwide the impact and use of holistic review -- a university admissions process that assesses an applicant's unique experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement such as grades and test scores -- for students pursuing careers in the health professions.

Nanotechnology leads to better, cheaper LEDs for phones and lighting

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:35 AM PDT

Using a new nanoscale structure, electrical engineers have increased the brightness and efficiency of LEDs made of organic materials -- flexible carbon-based sheets -- by 57 percent. The researchers also report their method should yield similar improvements in LEDs made in inorganic, silicon-based materials used most commonly today.

2-D materials' crystalline defects key to new properties

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:35 AM PDT

Understanding how atoms 'glide' and 'climb' on the surface of 2-D crystals like tungsten disulphide may pave the way for researchers to develop materials with unusual or unique characteristics, according to an international team of researchers.

Gang life is short-lived, study finds

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:35 AM PDT

Although membership in a gang often is depicted as a lifelong commitment, the typical gang member joins at age 13 and only stays active for about two years, according to a study.

'Fracking' wastewater that is treated for drinking downstream produces potentially harmful compounds

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:35 AM PDT

Concerns that fluids from hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking,' are contaminating drinking water abound. Now, scientists are bringing to light another angle that adds to the controversy. A new study has found that discharge of fracking wastewaters to rivers, even after passage through wastewater treatment plants, could be putting the drinking water supplies of downstream cities at risk.

'Greener,' low-cost transistor heralds advance in flexible electronics

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:35 AM PDT

As tech company LG demonstrated this summer with the unveiling of its 18-inch flexible screen, the next generation of roll-up displays is tantalizingly close. Researchers are now reporting a new, inexpensive and simple way to make transparent, flexible transistors -- the building blocks of electronics -- that could help bring roll-up smartphones with see-through displays and other bendable gadgets to consumers in just a few years.

Southern European healthcare systems in the economic crisis

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT

Very few matters draw as much public attention as the ongoing debate surrounding national healthcare services. When we speak of even the most basic access to medicines and cures - particularly sensitive topics during times of economic crises - political interference and private interests have dominated much of the discourse.

False memories could be a side-effect of human ability to learn rules

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT

Our tendency to create false memories could be related to our ability to learn rules according to new research. New research suggests that individuals who are particularly good at learning rules and classifying objects by common properties are also particularly prone to false memory illusions.

Final proof for optimal encoding strategies in optical communication

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT

Theorist have demonstrated that Gaussian encoding guarantees minimum output entropy and hence ultimate capacity of optical communication channels.

Surgeon employs novel technique using cadaver meniscus to reconstruct finger joints

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT

Artist Joost van Oss was chopping wood a few years ago when he injured the middle knuckle on his right hand. The intense pain and swelling that followed nearly ended his career as a painter and a sculptor. But thanks to a novel surgery using knee meniscus from a cadaver to reconstruct his finger joint, he's back to cooking, sailing, painting and sculpting – all pain free.

Flying doctor bees to prevent cherry disease

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT

A method to use bees to deliver disease control to cherry blossom, preventing brown rot in cherries, is being introduced by researchers. "Brown rot is caused by a fungus that significantly impacts the cherry industry through costs of applying fungicide, yield loss and fruit spoilage," says the project's leader and bee researcher.

States need to assume greater role in regulating dietary supplements for weight loss, muscle building, experts say

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT

Because of lax federal oversight of dietary supplements, which are marketed to adults and adolescents for weight loss and muscle building, but usually do not deliver promised results and can actually cause severe health issues, state governments need to increase their regulation of these products to protect consumers.

Many elite college athletes return to play after ACL surgery

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT

The majority of athletes included in a new study were able to return to play after having knee surgery to repair an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. "It's very clear from our data that the younger the elite athlete, the higher risk for reinjury," said the lead author of the study.

Wavefront optics emerging as new tool for measuring and correcting vision

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:29 AM PDT

A technique developed by astronomers seeking a clear view of distant objects in space is being intensively studied as a new approach to measuring and correcting visual abnormalities.

New mobile solar unit is designed to save lives when the power goes out

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:29 AM PDT

Brooke Ellison draws her own power from will, but the ventilator that keeps her alive requires uninterrupted electricity. Dr. Ellison is allowing scientists to field-test, at her home, the Nextek Power Systems STAR, a mobile solar generator.

Most breast cancer patients who had healthy breast removed at peace with decision

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT

More women with cancer in one breast are opting to have both breasts removed to reduce their risk of future cancer. New research shows that in the long term, most have no regrets. Researchers surveyed hundreds of women with breast cancer who had double mastectomies between 1960 and 1993 and found that nearly all would make the same choice again.

Tonsil stem cells could someday help repair liver damage without surgery

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT

The liver provides critical functions, such as ridding the body of toxins. Its failure can be deadly, and there are few options for fixing it. But scientists now report a way to potentially inject stem cells from tonsils, a body part we don't need, to repair damaged livers — all without surgery.

Gender barriers: History of discrimination against women in engineering

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT

To better understand the gender divide that still exists today in engineering, it's necessary to look at the history of the field, says one expert who explored those gender issues in a new book.

Are weak values quantum? Don't bet on it: Key technique used to probe quantum systems may not be so quantum after all

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT

Over the past 20 years, a strange idea called a "weak value" has taken root in quantum information science. Many of the things you can do with quantum technologies entail being able to gain information from quantum systems. But there is a quantum conundrum: we can't say what a particle is doing when we're not looking at it, but when we do look at it, we change its behavior. But what if we could look "a little"?

Imaging studies open a window on how effective antibodies are formed

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT

Sometimes, in order to understand what's happening in the immune system, you just have to watch it. By imaging the immune response, researchers have observed how two types of immune cells, T and B cells, interact with one another during a critical period following infection in order to prepare the best antibodies and establish long-lasting protection.

Good news for young patients with a leukemia subtype associated with a poor prognosis

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT

Adjusting treatment based on early response to chemotherapy made a life-saving difference to young patients with an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) subtype associated with a poor outcome, researchers have found. The results are good news for children and adolescents with Philadelphia chromosome-like ALL (Ph-like ALL), a subtype that until now was associated with a poor prognosis. Ph-like ALL accounts for as much as 15 percent of the most common pediatric cancer.

Most stars are born in clusters, some leave 'home'

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:26 AM PDT

New modeling studies demonstrate that most of the stars we see were formed when unstable clusters of newly formed protostars broke up. These protostars are born out of rotating clouds of dust and gas, which act as nurseries for star formation. Rare clusters of multiple protostars remain stable and mature into multi-star systems. The unstable ones will eject stars until they achieve stability and end up as single or binary stars.

India's Mars Orbiter Spacecraft successfully inserted into orbit around Red Planet

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 07:25 AM PDT

India's Mars Orbiter Spacecraft successfully entered into an orbit around the planet Mars this morning (Sept. 24, 2014) by firing its 440 Newton Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) along with eight smaller liquid engines. In the coming weeks, the spacecraft will be thoroughly tested in Mars orbit and the systematic observation of the planet using the spacecraft's five scientific instruments is expected to begin.