ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Lost memories might be able to be restored, suggests research into marine snail

Posted: 20 Dec 2014 07:41 AM PST

New research indicates that lost memories can be restored, according to new research into a type of marine snail called Aplysia. The findings offer some hope for patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

First direct evidence that a mysterious phase of matter competes with high-temperature superconductivity

Posted: 20 Dec 2014 07:41 AM PST

Scientists have found the first direct evidence that a mysterious phase of matter known as the "pseudogap" competes with high-temperature superconductivity, robbing it of electrons that otherwise might pair up to carry current through a material with 100 percent efficiency.

New species found in the deepest trench on Earth

Posted: 20 Dec 2014 01:05 AM PST

Researchers have returned from the first detailed study of the Mariana Trench aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor. The expedition set many new records, including the deepest rock samples ever collected and the discovery of new fish species at the greatest depths ever recorded.

Early exposure to antidepressants affects adult anxiety, serotonin transmission

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 01:06 PM PST

Early developmental exposure to two different antidepressants, Prozac and Lexapro, has been studied by researchers in a mouse model that mimics human third trimester medication exposure. They found that, although these serotonin-selective reuptake inhibiting antidepressants were thought to work the same way, they did not produce the same long-term changes in anxiety behavior in the adult mice. About 15 percent of women in the United States suffer from anxiety disorders and depression during their pregnancies, and many are prescribed antidepressants.

New technique reveals immune cell motion

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 01:06 PM PST

Neutrophils, cells recruited by the immune system to fight infection, need to move through a great variety of tissues. New research shows how neutrophils move through confined spaces in the body. A new system can mimic tissues of different densities and stiffness, enabling improved development and testing of drugs.

Possible avenue to better electrolyte for lithium ion batteries

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 01:06 PM PST

Researchers carried out the first X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of a model electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries and may have found a pathway forward to improving LIBs for electric vehicles and large-scale electrical energy storage.

Cheaper 3-D virtual reality system: Powerful enough for a gamer, made for an engineer

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 01:06 PM PST

It's like a scene from a gamer's wildest dreams: 12 high-definition, 55-inch 3-D televisions all connected to a computer capable of supporting high-end, graphics-intensive gaming. On the massive screen, images are controlled by a Wii remote that interacts with a Kinnect-like Bluetooth device (called SmartTrack), while 3-D glasses worn by the user create dizzying added dimensions.

Reducing emergency surgery cuts health care costs

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 01:05 PM PST

Researchers have determined the hospital costs and risk of death for emergency surgery and compared it to the same operation when performed in a planned, elective manner for three common surgical procedures: abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, coronary artery bypass graft and colon resection. The research indicates that reducing emergency surgery for three common procedures by 10 percent could cut $1 billion in health care costs over 10 years.

Technophobia may keep seniors from using apps to manage diabetes

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 01:05 PM PST

Despite showing interest in web or mobile apps to help manage their type 2 diabetes, only a small number of older adults actually use them, says a new study. Approximately 2.2 million Canadians are living with type 2 diabetes, 2 million of whom are age 50 or older. A study found that although more than 90 per cent of research participants owned a computer or had daily Internet access, just 18 per cent used applications on this technology to help manage their diabetes. While almost half owned smartphones, only 5 per cent used them to manage their disease.

Family criticizing your weight? You might add more pounds

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 01:05 PM PST

Women whose loved ones are critical of their weight tend to put on even more pounds, says a new study on the way people's comments affect our health. "When we feel bad about our bodies, we often turn to loved ones -- families, friends and romantic partners -- for support and advice. How they respond can have a bigger effect than we might think," said one author.

Personalized advertising attracts more attention and makes contents of ads easier to remember

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 10:04 AM PST

Personalized advertisements on the Internet not only attract more attention, they also remain in our memory longer than impersonal ads. People who surf the internet and shop online leave many traces of their behavior behind. These data are increasingly being used by companies to present ads on their websites that are intended to meet people's individual interests and preferences.

A Facebook application knows if you are having a bad day and tells your teacher

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 10:03 AM PST

Lengguru 2014 scientific expedition returns

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 10:01 AM PST

Having left on 17th October to produce a biodiversity inventory of the Lengguru karsts in West Papua, the scientists are back after more than a month of exploration both on land and at sea. Lengguru 2014, the largest scientific expedition ever undertaken in Indonesia, enabled the study of several original karst environments and the collection of hundreds of animal and plant species, testifying to a clear indication of the area's rich biodiversity.

Oil palm: A modeled crop

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 07:41 AM PST

Scientists have developed a model for oil palm cultivation, aimed at helping growers of the crop maximize the yields of their plantations, while minimizing detrimental environmental impacts.

Girl Scouts and Energy Efficiency: Scaling climate change communication for behavior change

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 07:41 AM PST

Researchers have developed two curricula for Girl Scouts to use energy more efficiently: one on energy use at home, and the other in transportation and food. Both courses were effective for girls in the short term, and the home energy course was effective for girls in the long term and for parents in the short term. This

Hermit creepy crawlies: Two new taxa of wood-feeding cockroach from China

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 07:40 AM PST

Scientists have found a new species and a new subspecies of cockroach. What makes these creepy crawlies distinctive from the cockroaches most of us know is that they don't infest houses, on the contrary they prefer to live a hermit life hidden away drilling logs, far away from human eyes.

New challenges for ocean acidification research

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 07:40 AM PST

To continue its striking development, ocean acidification research needs to bridge between its diverging branches towards an integrated assessment. Experts reflect on the lessons learned from ocean acidification research and highlight future challenges.