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• Graphene/nanotube hybrid benefits flexible solar cells
• Engineers efficiently 'mix' light at the nanoscale
• Hiding in plain sight: Elusive dark matter may be detected with GPS satellites
• Why lizards have bird breath: Iguanas evolved one-way lungs surprisingly like those of birds
• The 'dirty' side of soap: Triclosan, a common antimicrobial in personal hygiene products, causes liver fibrosis and cancer in mice
• Scientists Reveal Weak Spots in Ebola's Defenses
• Advances in electron microscopy reveal secrets of HIV and other viruses
• Fruit flies learn from others: Researchers study how group interaction influences where female fruit flies lay their eggs
• As temperatures rise, soil will relinquish less carbon to the atmosphere than predicted
• Ideas from middle managers are less likely to be passed to company leaders in organizations with more hierarchy
• Reprogramming cells, long term
• Businesses can help preserve endangered species with small landscape changes
• Smoking study: Financial incentives double quit rates
• TNF inhibitors may increase cancer risk in the eye, researchers report
• Scientists X-ray tiny cell organelles responsible for carbon fixation
• Gene found in kidney may play role in high blood pressure in male mice
• Revolutionary solar-friendly form of silicon shines
• Warmth, flowing water on early Mars were episodic
• New technique to help produce next generation photonic chips
• Readying the neural network: Brain discovery opens more questions on role of cell death
• Extinction risk not the answer for reef futures
• Stenospermocarpic fruit linked to unmarketable black walnuts
• Three new ornamental dogwoods introduced
• Less sex plus more greens equals a longer life: Reptile study
• Second protein associated with common cause of kidney failure identified
• One firm's loss is another's gain
• Side effects of possible anti-cancer strategy discovered
• Family ties that bind: Having the right surname sets you up for life
• Adjusting Earth’s thermostat, with caution
• Links between mentoring, doctors' wellbeing explored
• A new genetic cause for a progressive form of epilepsy identified
• The secret life of anti-cancer drugs
• Caffeine to Viagra: Medications saving preemies may surprise you
• Women's fertility linked to detox element in diet
• 74 Percent of Parents Would Remove Their Kids From Daycare if Other Children Are Unvaccinated
• Americans sorting themselves into politically similar counties
• Where will big neuroscience take us?
• Metabolic 'reprogramming' by p53 gene family leads to tumor regression
• Gene Mutations and Process for How Kidney Tumors Develop identified
• New type of neuron that plays key role in nicotine addiction found
• Researchers create and control spin waves, lifting prospects for enhanced information processing
• Chemical disguise transforms RNAi drug delivery
• Calorie-restricting diets slow aging, study finds
• Rosetta's OSIRIS camera spots Philae lander drifting across the comet
• Spiral laser beam creates quantum whirlpool
• Hip replacement an excellent option for young juvenile arthritis patients
• Rheumatoid arthritis patients' BMI linked to ability to stay in remission
• Improvement in heart disease risk factors shown in project results
• Chlamydia knock out body's own cancer defense
• Infection-fighting B cells go with the flow
• Tillage shows very little impact on carbon sequestration
• Researchers discern the shapes of high-order Brownian motions
• Drug lowers high potassium levels associated with potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmias
• Evolutionary constraints revealed in diversity of fish skulls
• Drugs that prevent blood clots may protect organs during transplantation
• Datasets used by policymakers, scientists for public health analyses inconsistent
• Young children take but often barely touch healthy school cafeteria food options
• Home cooking a main ingredient in healthier diet, study shows
• Racial disparities in ear infection treatment may contribute to antibiotic overuse
• New approach to fighting chronic myeloid leukemia

Graphene/nanotube hybrid benefits flexible solar cells Posted: 17 Nov 2014 12:47 PM PST Scientists have created a graphene/nanotube cathode that may make cheap, flexible dye-sensitized solar cells more practical.

Engineers efficiently 'mix' light at the nanoscale Posted: 17 Nov 2014 12:47 PM PST Researchers have engineered a nanowire system that could pave the way for photonic computing, combining two light waves to produce a third with a different frequency and using an optical cavity to amplify the intensity of the output to a usable level.

Hiding in plain sight: Elusive dark matter may be detected with GPS satellites Posted: 17 Nov 2014 12:47 PM PST The everyday use of a GPS device might be to find your way around town or even navigate a hiking trail, but for two physicists, the Global Positioning System might be a tool in directly detecting and measuring dark matter, so far an elusive but ubiquitous form of matter responsible for the formation of galaxies.

Why lizards have bird breath: Iguanas evolved one-way lungs surprisingly like those of birds Posted: 17 Nov 2014 12:46 PM PST Biologists long assumed that one-way air flow was a special adaptation in birds driven by the intense energy demands of flight. But now scientists have shown that bird-like breathing also developed in green iguanas – reptiles not known for high-capacity aerobic fitness. The finding bolsters the case that unidirectional bird-like flow evolved long before the first birds.

The 'dirty' side of soap: Triclosan, a common antimicrobial in personal hygiene products, causes liver fibrosis and cancer in mice Posted: 17 Nov 2014 12:46 PM PST Triclosan is an antimicrobial commonly found in soaps, shampoos, toothpastes and many other household items. Despite its widespread use, researchers report potentially serious consequences of long-term exposure to the chemical.

Scientists Reveal Weak Spots in Ebola's Defenses Posted: 17 Nov 2014 12:46 PM PST Scientists have identified weak spots on the surface of Ebola virus that are targeted by the antibodies in ZMapp, the experimental drug cocktail administered to several patients during the recent Ebola outbreak.

Advances in electron microscopy reveal secrets of HIV and other viruses Posted: 17 Nov 2014 10:24 AM PST Researchers are getting a new look at the workings of HIV and other viruses thanks to new techniques in electron microscopy. Making a vaccine against HIV has always been difficult, at least partly because the proteins on the surface of the virus change so rapidly. Better understanding the structure of the gp120/Env trimer could help in finding less-variable areas of these proteins, not usually exposed to the immune system, which might be targets for a vaccine.

Fruit flies learn from others: Researchers study how group interaction influences where female fruit flies lay their eggs Posted: 17 Nov 2014 10:24 AM PST Fruit flies do not always conform to the norm. When female fruit flies have to decide where to lay their eggs, they take their lead from what they see most others in their group do. However, some do take their personal preferences into account.

As temperatures rise, soil will relinquish less carbon to the atmosphere than predicted Posted: 17 Nov 2014 10:24 AM PST Current climate models probably overestimate the amount of carbon that will be released from soil into the atmosphere as global temperatures rise, according to research. The findings are from a new computer model that explores the feedbacks between soil carbon and climate change. It's the first such model to include several physiologically realistic representations of how soil microbes break down organic matter, a process that annually unleashes about ten times as much carbon into the atmosphere as fossil fuel emissions.

Ideas from middle managers are less likely to be passed to company leaders in organizations with more hierarchy Posted: 17 Nov 2014 10:08 AM PST Ideas from mid-level managers that can benefit an organization are less likely to be passed up to superiors as hierarchy in the organization increases, according to new research.

Reprogramming cells, long term Posted: 17 Nov 2014 10:08 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated that adult cells, reprogrammed into another cell type in a living animal, can remain functional over a long period. The work is an important advance in the effort to develop cell-based therapies for tissue repair, and specifically in the effort to develop improved treatment for diabetes.

Businesses can help preserve endangered species with small landscape changes Posted: 17 Nov 2014 10:08 AM PST Businesses can contribute to raptor preservation efforts by engaging in less development of lawn areas and increased planting or preservation of native grasslands and woodlots. As more businesses are built on the edges of urban areas, land where raptors once lived becomes industrialized, which raises concerns about the consequences of habitat destruction on raptor populations, experts say.

Smoking study: Financial incentives double quit rates Posted: 17 Nov 2014 10:08 AM PST Offering small financial incentives doubles smoking cessation rates among socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers, according to research. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

TNF inhibitors may increase cancer risk in the eye, researchers report Posted: 17 Nov 2014 10:07 AM PST One of the family of drugs prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions is called tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. They act by dampening part of the immune system called tumor necrosis factor. In one of the balancing acts of medicine, the anti-inflammatory action of the drug also increases the risk for other conditions, in this case, a rare form of eye cancer, uveal melanoma.

Scientists X-ray tiny cell organelles responsible for carbon fixation Posted: 17 Nov 2014 10:07 AM PST Scientists have developed a high-throughput method of imaging biological particles using an X-ray laser. The images show projections of the carboxysome particle, a delicate and tiny cell compartment in photosynthetic bacteria.

Gene found in kidney may play role in high blood pressure in male mice Posted: 17 Nov 2014 10:07 AM PST A gene abundant in the kidneys may actually play a role in the regulation of blood pressure and hypertension in experimental male mouse models, scientists have discovered. The gene, a kidney androgen-regulated protein (KAP) that is abundantly and exclusively found in the kidney proximal tubule, is stimulated by an androgen hormone such as testosterone.

Revolutionary solar-friendly form of silicon shines Posted: 17 Nov 2014 10:06 AM PST Silicon is the second most-abundant element in the earth's crust. When purified, it takes on a diamond structure, which is essential to modern electronic devices -- carbon is to biology as silicon is to technology. Scientists have synthesized an entirely new form of silicon, one that promises even greater future applications.

Warmth, flowing water on early Mars were episodic Posted: 17 Nov 2014 10:06 AM PST There is ample evidence that water once flowed on the surface of ancient Mars. But that evidence is difficult to reconcile with the latest generation of climate models that suggest Mars should have been eternally icy. A new study suggest that warming and water flow on Mars were probably episodic and related to ancient volcanic eruptions.

New technique to help produce next generation photonic chips Posted: 17 Nov 2014 09:58 AM PST Researchers have developed a new technique to help produce more reliable and robust next generation photonic chips. Photonic chips made from silicon will play a major role in future optical networks for worldwide data traffic. The high refractive index of silicon makes optical structures the size of a fraction of the diameter of a human hair possible. Squeezing more and more optical structures for light distribution, modulation, detection and routing into smaller chip areas allows for higher data rates at lower fabrication costs.

Readying the neural network: Brain discovery opens more questions on role of cell death Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:17 AM PST Researchers illuminate a new purpose for a receptor known to trigger cell death. For years, neuroscientists thought only the synapse could contain receptors, the neurotransmitter catching-mitts on neurons. But when they applied a neurotransmitter called NMDA to the area around the synapse they realized that they could trigger different responses.

Extinction risk not the answer for reef futures Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:17 AM PST Leading coral reef scientists say there needs to be a new approach to protecting the future of marine ecosystems, with a shift away from the current focus on extinction threat.

Stenospermocarpic fruit linked to unmarketable black walnuts Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:17 AM PST Studies were conducted to determine the incidence of ambered black walnut kernels in an orchard, and to ascertain when symptoms were apparent in specific tissues. Factors such as cropload, soil type, ambient temperatures, or precipitation were not associated with a high incidence of ambered kernels. Analyses determined that visible embryo degeneration, associated with ambered kernels in black walnut fruit, was detected in early July when shell hardening occurs and kernel tissues are enlarging.

Three new ornamental dogwoods introduced Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:16 AM PST Three new ornamental dogwood varieties that are resistant to powdery mildew and dogwood anthracnose have been introduced by reserachers. 'Empire' is a brilliant, white-bracted kousa dogwood with a columnar form and exfoliating bark. 'Pam's Mountain Bouquet', a kousa dogwood with a spreading form, features a prolific fused bract display. 'Red Steeple' features a columnar-shaped canopy with red foliage that fades to green and white bracts with a red tint along the margins.

Less sex plus more greens equals a longer life: Reptile study Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:16 AM PST While a life in the slow lane may be easier, will it be any longer? It will if you're a reptile. A new study finds that reduced reproductive rates and a plant-rich diet are responsible for the increased lifespan of reptiles.

Second protein associated with common cause of kidney failure identified Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:16 AM PST A protein that turns a person's immune system against itself in a form of kidney disease called membranous nephropathy has been identified by researchers. Membranous nephropathy occurs when the small blood vessels in the kidney that filter wastes from the blood are damaged by circulating autoantibodies. As a result, proteins leak from the damaged blood vessels into the urine.

One firm's loss is another's gain Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:16 AM PST Good news for savvy businesses: customers who walk through your doors unhappy with another firm's service can be won back with simple gestures of goodwill.

Side effects of possible anti-cancer strategy discovered Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:16 AM PST The Malt1 protein is one of the most important control centers in human immune cells and a real all-rounder. Genetic defects in it can lead to the development of lymphatic cancer (lymphoma). A possible therapeutic approach is therefore to specifically block certain functions of Malt1, thus destroying the cancer cells. Now, however, scientists have shown in a mouse model that such a blockade can cause serious side effects.

Family ties that bind: Having the right surname sets you up for life Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:13 AM PST "Laws of inheritance" govern social status across generations, according to new research. If your surname reveals that you descended from the "in" crowd in the England of 1066 -- the Norman Conquerors -- then even now you are more likely than the average Brit to be upper class. To a surprising degree, the social status of your ancestors many generations in the past still exerts an influence on your life chances, according to new research.

Adjusting Earth’s thermostat, with caution Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:13 AM PST A vast majority of scientists believe that the Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate and that human activity is almost certainly the dominant cause. But on the topics of response and mitigation, there is far less consensus.

Links between mentoring, doctors' wellbeing explored Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:13 AM PST A new research project looking at how mentoring may lead to improvements in doctors' health and wellbeing has received a grant from the British Medical Association.

A new genetic cause for a progressive form of epilepsy identified Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:13 AM PST An international research consortium has discovered a new gene underlying progressive myoclonus epilepsy, one of the most devastating forms of epilepsy. The study showed that a single mutation in a potassium ion channel gene underlies a substantial proportion of unsolved cases. It is estimated that the mutation is carried by hundreds of patients worldwide. The study utilized modern DNA sequencing technologies, which have revolutionized genetic research of rare, severe diseases.

The secret life of anti-cancer drugs Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:13 AM PST The public is bombarded with news of exciting developments in cancer research every day, with new anti-cancer drugs greeted with excitement. But what happens to these drugs? When do they become accessible to cancer patients – if at all?

Caffeine to Viagra: Medications saving preemies may surprise you Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:10 AM PST This month is Prematurity Awareness Month and today is World Prematurity Day. What many people may not know is part of the comprehensive care for the tiniest babies includes medications such as Sildenafil and caffeine. Most babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) receive caffeine as they are coming off a ventilator and learning to breathe on their own.

Women's fertility linked to detox element in diet Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:10 AM PST For the first time, research has shown how much of a critical role the natural antioxidant selenium plays at the earliest stages of a woman's fertility. "Selenium is an essential trace element found in protein-rich foods like red meat, seafood and nuts. It is important for many biological functions, such as immune response, thyroid hormone production, and acts as an antioxidant, helping to detoxify damaging chemicals in the body," one researcher says.

74 Percent of Parents Would Remove Their Kids From Daycare if Other Children Are Unvaccinated Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:07 AM PST In an American national sample of parents of child 0-5 years, most indicate that daycare providers should review children's immunization status every year to ensure they are up-to-date (52 percent strongly agree, 22 percent agree).

Americans sorting themselves into politically similar counties Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:07 AM PST Researchers have analyzed almost 40 years of election data and relocation patterns around the United States and found that Americans are increasingly sorting themselves into politically homogeneous communities. But it hasn't happened in the way they expected.

Where will big neuroscience take us? Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:07 AM PST The U.S., Europe and Asia have launched big brain research projects. What impact will they have? Scientists integral to three projects share their insights ahead of a special session hosted by the Society for Neuroscience.

Metabolic 'reprogramming' by p53 gene family leads to tumor regression Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:07 AM PST Altering members of the p53 gene family, known as tumor suppressor genes, causes rapid regression of tumors that are deficient in or totally missing p53, scientists have found. The investigation showed that, in vivo, the genes p63 and p73 can be manipulated to upregulate or increase levels of IAPP, a protein important for the body's ability to metabolize glucose. IAPP is found in some diabetes drugs already on the market.

Gene Mutations and Process for How Kidney Tumors Develop identified Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:06 AM PST Using next generation gene sequencing techniques, cancer researchers have identified more than 3,000 new mutations involved in certain kidney cancers, findings that help explain the diversity of cancer behaviors.

New type of neuron that plays key role in nicotine addiction found Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:06 AM PST The brain's reward and stress systems are actually linked, scientists have discovered. Their findings show that in the core of the brain's reward system specific neurons are active both with use of and withdrawal from nicotine.

Researchers create and control spin waves, lifting prospects for enhanced information processing Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:06 AM PST Physicists have developed a method to control the movements occurring within magnetic materials, which are used to store and carry information. The breakthrough could simultaneously bolster information processing while reducing the energy necessary to do so.

Chemical disguise transforms RNAi drug delivery Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:06 AM PST Researchers have developed a way to chemically disguise RNAi drugs so that they are able to enter cells. Once inside, cellular machinery converts these disguised drug precursors — called siRNNs — into active RNAi drugs.

Calorie-restricting diets slow aging, study finds Posted: 17 Nov 2014 08:06 AM PST Neuroscientists have shown that calorie-reduced diets stop the normal rise and fall in activity levels of close to 900 different genes linked to aging and memory formation in the brain.

Rosetta's OSIRIS camera spots Philae lander drifting across the comet Posted: 17 Nov 2014 07:12 AM PST Incredible new images show the breathtaking journey of Rosetta's Philae lander as it approached and then rebounded from its first touchdown on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on 12 November 2014.

Spiral laser beam creates quantum whirlpool Posted: 17 Nov 2014 06:33 AM PST Physicists have engineered a spiral laser beam and used it to create a whirlpool of hybrid light-matter particles called polaritons, hybrid particles that have properties of both matter and light and could link electronics with photonics.

Hip replacement an excellent option for young juvenile arthritis patients Posted: 17 Nov 2014 06:33 AM PST Total hip replacement is an excellent option for patients under age 35 when conservative treatments fail to provide pain relief, researchers have found. The implant lasted at least 10 years in 85 percent of patients.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients' BMI linked to ability to stay in remission Posted: 17 Nov 2014 06:33 AM PST Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who were significantly underweight or overweight were the least likely to remain in remission in a recent study. This study presents evidence that BMI is among the modifiable risk factors for poor RA outcomes.

Improvement in heart disease risk factors shown in project results Posted: 17 Nov 2014 06:33 AM PST The Heart of New Ulm is a 10-year community intervention aimed at reducing the rate of modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors in a rural community through interventions delivered through clinical, worksite, and broader community settings with goals of improving lifestyle changes, clinical care, and the environment where community members work and play. Interventions include heart health screenings, health coaching, worksite health improvement, improving the food environment with restaurants and farmers markets, and increasing physical activity.

Chlamydia knock out body's own cancer defense Posted: 17 Nov 2014 06:33 AM PST By breaking down the cancer-suppressing protein p53, Chlamydia prevent programmed cell death and thereby favor the process of cancer development, scientists report.

Infection-fighting B cells go with the flow Posted: 17 Nov 2014 06:33 AM PST Newly formed B cells take the easy way out when it comes to exiting the bone marrow, according to researchers. Why immune cells use different exit strategies in different organs is not completely clear. But the authors suggest that the go-with-the-flow strategy of the bone marrow may be due to its role in the production of red blood cells, which do not express molecules required for active crawling.

Tillage shows very little impact on carbon sequestration Posted: 17 Nov 2014 06:31 AM PST Reducing or eliminating tillage is one of the farming practices most frequently touted to improve carbon sequestration in soil. A new study turns this paradigm on its head. This study, the result of a rigorous experiment conducted in the Ile-de-France region, shows that after a period of 41 years, three tillage methods led to similar carbon sequestration outcomes. However, variations were apparent over time based on climate conditions.

Researchers discern the shapes of high-order Brownian motions Posted: 17 Nov 2014 05:47 AM PST For the first time, scientists have vividly mapped the shapes and textures of high-order modes of Brownian motions -- in this case, the collective macroscopic movement of molecules in microdisk resonators.Engineers used a record-setting scanning optical interferometry technique.

Drug lowers high potassium levels associated with potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmias Posted: 17 Nov 2014 05:47 AM PST Researchers evaluated the efficacy and safety of the drug zirconium cyclosilicate in patients with hyperkalemia -- higher than normal potassium levels. Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte disorder which can cause potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and is associated with chronic kidney disease, heart failure, and diabetes mellitus.

Evolutionary constraints revealed in diversity of fish skulls Posted: 17 Nov 2014 05:47 AM PST In the aquatic environment, suction feeding is far more common than biting as a way to capture prey. A new study shows that the evolution of biting behavior in eels led to a remarkable diversification of skull shapes, indicating that the skull shapes of most fish are limited by the structural requirements for suction feeding.

Drugs that prevent blood clots may protect organs during transplantation Posted: 17 Nov 2014 05:47 AM PST Organs can become significantly damaged during transplantation, but a new article offers a protective strategy that could keep them safe and allow them to function optimally after the procedure.

Datasets used by policymakers, scientists for public health analyses inconsistent Posted: 17 Nov 2014 05:47 AM PST Commercially available datasets containing a wealth of information about food and alcohol establishments differ significantly, raising concerns about their reliability as sources of information that could be used to set public policy or conduct scientific research, according to an investigation.

Young children take but often barely touch healthy school cafeteria food options Posted: 17 Nov 2014 05:47 AM PST You can offer young children healthier food choices in the elementary school cafeteria, but will they actually put it on their trays and eat it? Probably not, suggests a new study.

Home cooking a main ingredient in healthier diet, study shows Posted: 17 Nov 2014 05:47 AM PST People who frequently cook meals at home eat healthier and consume fewer calories than those who cook less, according to new research. The findings also suggest that those who frequently cooked at home -- six-to-seven nights a week -- also consumed fewer calories on the occasions when they ate out.

Racial disparities in ear infection treatment may contribute to antibiotic overuse Posted: 17 Nov 2014 05:47 AM PST Black children are less likely to be diagnosed with and less likely to receive broad-spectrum antibiotics for ear infections than white children are, a new study has found. But the discrepancy in prescribing fewer broad-spectrum antibiotics means black children actually are more likely to receive care that aligns with the recommended guidelines for treating ear infections.

New approach to fighting chronic myeloid leukemia Posted: 17 Nov 2014 05:47 AM PST Chronic myeloid leukemia is caused by the hyperactivity of a mutated enzyme. Scientists have discovered an indirect way to regulate this enzyme that could prove more effective than current therapies.

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