ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Orange is the new red

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:12 AM PDT

A photoprotective mechanism in cyanobacteria is triggered by an unprecedented, large-scale movement from one location to another of the carotenoid pigment within the Orange Carotenoid Protein, researchers have discovered.

Opening a new route to photonics

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:12 AM PDT

A technique for effectively controlling pulses of light in closely packed nanoscale waveguides -- an essential requirement for ultrahigh density, ultracompact integrated photonic circuitry -- has been developed by a group of researchers.

Why June 30 will get an extra second

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:12 AM PDT

The day will officially be a bit longer than usual on Tuesday, June 30, 2015, because an extra second, or 'leap' second, will be added.

Natural wilderness areas need buffer zones to protect from human development

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:12 AM PDT

Despite heavy development, the United States still has millions of acres of pristine wild lands. Coveted for their beauty, these wilderness areas draw innumerable outdoor enthusiasts eager for a taste of primitive nature. But researchers say these federally protected nature areas have a problem: Their boundaries have become prime real estate.

Building a better semiconductor

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:12 AM PDT

Research could someday lead to the development of new and improved semiconductors. Scientists detail how they developed a method to change the electronic properties of materials in a way that will more easily allow an electrical current to pass through.

New strategies, solutions to fight pediatric asthma

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:12 AM PDT

Low flu vaccination rates, medication compliance and limited access to primary care providers have contributed to the high pediatric asthma rates in California, researchers conclude. This new study details several issues affecting asthma care and offers a number of public policy strategies that could help remedy these shortcomings.

Potential new class of cancer drugs developed in lab

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:12 AM PDT

A new class of drug developed targets the Warburg effect to cut off cancer's energy supply, and researchers say that it has the potential to stop most kinds of cancer in its tracks.

Calcium channel essential for deep sleep identified

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:12 AM PDT

A specific calcium channel plays a crucial role in deep, slow-wave sleep, scientists have discovered. This is a key step toward understanding both normal and abnormal waking brain functions.

Eco-friendly oil spill solution developed

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:12 AM PDT

An eco-friendly biodegradable green 'herding' agent that can be used to clean up light crude oil spills on water has been developed by researchers. Derived from the plant-based small molecule phytol abundant in the marine environment, the new substance would potentially replace chemical herders currently in use, they say.

Children with asthma likely born in area with high air pollution

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:12 AM PDT

Children who develop asthma in Toronto are more likely to have been born in a neighborhood that has a high level of traffic-related air pollution, new research suggests.

Why are seabirds abandoning their ancestral nesting grounds in the Gulf of California?

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:12 AM PDT

Warming oceanographic conditions and fishing pressure are driving nesting seabirds away from their ancestral breeding ground in Mexico into California harbors, a group of researchers has found.

Fewer tiger subspecies, better protection?

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:10 AM PDT

New scientific research could help to protect tigers (Panthera tigris) from extinction. The findings indicate that tigers should be classified as only two subspecies – up to now nine subspecies were previously recognized. This will have a significant impact on species conservation since management efforts and breeding programs can now be organized in a simpler, more flexible and effective way.

Coil for the next upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider passes tests

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:10 AM PDT

A group collaborating across four American laboratories completed the first successful tests of a superconducting coil in preparation for the future high-luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider, or HL-LHC. These tests indicate that the magnet design may be adequate for its intended use.

Fatalistic beliefs may prevent Appalachian women from completing HPV vaccination series

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 05:10 AM PDT

Could a fatalistic attitude toward cervical cancer serve as a barrier to prevention of the disease? A recent study suggests a link between fatalistic beliefs and completion of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series among a sample of young Appalachian Kentucky women.

The peaks and valleys of silicon

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 10:06 AM PDT

Scientists have created a new method for generating a 2D semiconducting material that could one day replace silicon in electronics. The demand for a silicon material aided the discovery of graphene, a single layer of graphite -- which won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010. Since this time, scientists and engineers have developed many two-dimensional (2D) material innovations -- layered materials with the thickness of only one atom or a few atoms. One such layered 2D material is black arsenic phosphorus.

Scientists identify 'decoy' molecule that may sharply reduce risk of flu death

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 10:06 AM PDT

The flu virus can be lethal. But what is often just as dangerous is the body's own reaction to the invader. The immune counterattack can end up harming the body's own tissues, causing deadly damage. Now, a researcher has, for the first time, uncovered new details about how this response plays out. And he has identified a 'decoy' molecule that can rein in this runaway inflammatory response.

Having a stroke? Where you are makes a huge difference in your treatment

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 09:57 AM PDT

It looks like a crazy quilt spread over the continent. But a new map of emergency stroke care in America shows just how much of a patchwork system we still have for delivering the most effective stroke treatment. And thousands of people a year may end up unnecessarily disabled as a result.

Light fixture kills bacteria safely, continuously

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 07:56 AM PDT

A new light fixture uses Continuous Environmental Disinfection technology to continuously kill harmful bacteria linked to hospital acquired infections (HAIs). The technology behind the Indigo-Clean™ inactivates a wide range of micro-organisms that are known causes of HAIs, including MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), C.difficile and VRE (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus).

Analysis shows increased carbon intensity from Canadian oil sands

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 07:51 AM PDT

Gasoline and diesel refined from Canadian oil sands has a higher carbon impact than fuels derived from conventional domestic crude sources, a new study concludes.

Pet owners reluctant to face up to their cats' kill count

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 07:51 AM PDT

Pet owners are reluctant to face up to their cats' kill count, a new study suggests. Cat owners fail to realize the impact of their cat on wildlife according to new research.

Daily bathing of pediatric patients with antiseptic cuts bloodstream infections by 59 percent

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 06:55 AM PDT

Daily bathing of pediatric patients with disposable cloths containing 2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate reduced central line-associated bloodstream infections by 59 percent and saved approximately $300,000 in one hospital over a six-month period, according to a new study.

Braking mechanism identified for cell growth pathway linked to several cancers

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 06:55 AM PDT

A self-regulating loop in the Hippo pathway, a signaling channel garnering increased attention from cancer researchers due to its role in controlling organ size, cell proliferation and cell death, has been identified by researchers.

RNASEH1 mutations impair mtDNA replication, cause adult-onset mitochondrial encephalomyopathy

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 05:42 AM PDT

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology offers an incredible opportunity for the rapid and relatively low-cost characterization of individual genomes, giving us a chance to make a substantial leap ahead in the molecular dissection of all mitochondrial disorders in humans.

Endogenous proteins as anti-inflammatory agents

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 05:41 AM PDT

In autoimmune diseases and immune pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or organ rejection, inflammatory processes take place in the body, triggered by its own immune system. New research is concentrating on a special protein that is thought to play an important role in controlling excessive immune reactions.

Iron: A biological element?

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 05:39 AM PDT

Think of an object made of iron: An I-beam, a car frame, a nail. Now imagine that half of the iron in that object owes its existence to bacteria living two and a half billion years ago. That's the upshot of a new study. Its findings have meaning for fields as diverse as mining and the search for life in space.

Long-acting antipsychotic medication may improve treatment for schizophrenia

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 05:38 AM PDT

An injectable drug given every two weeks works better than a daily pill for those who have been recently diagnosed with schizophrenia, a study shows.

Pet care can help improve adolescents' Type 1 diabetes management, pediatricians find

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 05:38 AM PDT

Pediatric diabetes researchers found that incorporating routine pet care into a child's diabetes self-care plan can significantly improve monitoring of the disease, resulting in lower blood glucose levels.

Head Start program played anti-segregation role in the Deep South

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 05:38 AM PDT

A federal preschool program did more than improve educational opportunities for poor children in Mississippi during the 1960s. The program also gave a political and economic boost to the state's civil rights activists, according to a historian.

Waging war on Australia's nastiest parasite: Scientists map blowfly genome

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 05:38 AM PDT

Researchers have decoded the Australian sheep blowfly genome, adding ammunition to the battle against one of the nation's most insidious pests. This blowfly is responsible for about $280 million in losses to Australia's sheep industry each year from flystrike.

Medically complex patients with Type 2 diabetes could benefit from seeing a specialist soon

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 05:37 AM PDT

People recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and who have other serious chronic health issues have less heart disease and lower death rates if they see an endocrinologist within one year of diagnosis, new research suggests.

European rule changes on cross border pet transport may heighten rabies risk

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 05:34 AM PDT

Recent changes to regulations on the transport of pets across Europe may have increased the threat of introducing rabies from rescue dogs into countries considered free of the disease, suggests research.

SSRI antidepressants taken for menopausal symptoms may boost bone fracture risk

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 05:34 AM PDT

The class of antidepressants known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), taken to curb menopausal symptoms, may boost bone fracture risk, suggests new research.

New strategies for combatting chronic kidney disease, other long-term conditions

Posted: 25 Jun 2015 02:07 PM PDT

New strategies for using electronic health records (EHRs) to treat patients with chronic kidney disease have been outlined by investigators. Their recommendations may help clinicians and hospitals better manage individual patients with chronic conditions and identify groups of patients most likely to benefit from different treatment strategies.