ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Eleven-year cosmic search leads to black hole rethink

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 12:15 PM PDT

One hundred years since Einstein proposed gravitational waves as part of his general theory of relativity, an 11-year search has failed to detect them, casting doubt on our understanding of galaxies and black holes.

Flower declines shrink bee tongues

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 12:14 PM PDT

Climate-related changes in flower diversity have resulted in a decrease in the length of alpine bumble bees' tongues, a new study reports, leaving these insects poorly suited to feed from and pollinate the deep flowers they were adapted to previously.

'Remote control' of immune cells opens door to safer, more precise cancer therapies

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:31 AM PDT

A molecular "on switch" that allows tight control over the actions of T cells, immune system cells that have shown great potential as therapies for cancer, has been developed by a group of researchers.

Dining technology use is no measure of value, researchers find

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:29 AM PDT

Have you ever been dissatisfied with a restaurant experience because the customer-service technology you had to use to reserve a table, order your food or pay for the meal wasn't up to par? Researchers aren't surprised. According to their findings, organizations often gauge the effectiveness and value of a customer service technology based solely on its use, which could be a costly mistake when they decide where to invest their technology dollars.

New method to better understand atomic nuclei

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:29 AM PDT

The precise structure of atomic nuclei is an old problem that has not been fully solved yet, and it also constitutes a current research focus in the field of natural sciences. Physicists have developed an approach to carry out precision calculations of the forces acting between the particles inside the nucleus.

A twist for control of orbital angular momentum of neutron waves

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:29 AM PDT

An experiment shows, for the first time, that a wave property of neutrons, Orbital Angular Momentum, can be controlled.

Newly identified mechanism solves enduring mystery of key element of cellular organization

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:28 AM PDT

Scientists have identified a mechanism that plays a key role in cellular organization and function and also offers a possible new treatment strategy for ALS and other degenerative disorders.

New theory of stealth dark matter may explain universe's missing mass

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:28 AM PDT

Scientists have come up with a new theory that may identify why dark matter has evaded direct detection in Earth-based experiments.

In-flight medical emergencies: What doctors and travelers must know

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:28 AM PDT

A new article offers guidance for both healthcare providers and other travelers about how to handle mid-air medical emergencies. This important advice could save your life.

New forests cannot take in as much carbon as predicted

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:28 AM PDT

As carbon emissions continue to rise, scientists project forests will grow faster and larger, due to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, which fuels photosynthesis. But a new study finds that these projections are overestimated.

Scientists build wrench 1.7 nanometers wide

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:28 AM PDT

Chemists have invented a nanoscale wrench that allows them to precisely control nanoscale shapes. Their use of 'chirality-assisted synthesis' is a fundamentally new approach to shaping large molecules -- one of the foundational needs for making complex synthetic materials, including new polymers and medicines.

How celebrity suicides change support-seeking practices on social media

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:28 AM PDT

Activity on a Reddit help forum changes dramatically in the aftermath of celebrity suicides, new research shows. Instead of reaching out to others for support against suicidal thoughts, Redditors show expressions that indicate increased and explicit suicidal tendencies. Content and participation in the days and weeks after a celebrity's death are more likely to be angry and more anxious.

Researchers uncover genetic basis for kin recognition in mice

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:27 AM PDT

It is well established that animals, including people, bias cooperation towards close relatives because it increases the odds of the genes that they share with relatives being passed to the next generation. Now the genetic basis of how mice can recognize these close relatives, even if they have never encountered them before, has been identified by researchers.

Of brains and bones: How hunger neurons control bone mass

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:27 AM PDT

In an advance that helps clarify the role of a cluster of neurons in the brain, researchers have found that these neurons not only control hunger and appetite, but also regulate bone mass.

100 years to find a cure: Can the process be accelerated?

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:26 AM PDT

Scientists have provided a detailed map of how basic research translates into new treatments for deadly diseases. Charting the network of discoveries that led to the development of important therapeutic drugs, the investigators revealed that, up to now, the path to a cure has required thousands of scientists and many decades.

Weight loss, exercise improve fertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:25 AM PDT

Weight loss and exercise improve ovulation in women who have polycystic ovary syndrome, a common hormone disorder that often causes infertility, according to a new study.

From brain, to fat, to weight loss

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:25 AM PDT

A breakthrough study shows that fat tissue is innervated and that direct stimulation of neurons in fat is sufficient to induce fat breakdown. These results set up the stage for developing novel anti-obesity therapies.

In the dark polar winter, the animals aren't sleeping

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:25 AM PDT

You might expect that little happens in the Arctic Ocean during the cold and dark winter. But that just isn't so, according to researchers who have sampled the activities of many different species during three consecutive winters in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard.

After 100 years in captivity, a look at the world's last truly wild horses

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:25 AM PDT

Researchers have sequenced the complete genomes of eleven Przewalski's horses, including all of the founding lineages and five historical, museum specimens dating back more than a century, and compared them to the genomes of 28 domesticated horses to provide a detailed look at the endangered animals, both past and present.

The life and times of domesticated cheese-making fungi

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:25 AM PDT

People sure love their cheeses, but scientists have a lot to learn about the fungi responsible for a blue cheese like Roquefort or a soft Camembert. Now researchers have pieced together the story of those Penicillium fungi. The findings reveal an important role for the horizontal transfer of genes from one species to another in the fungi's ability to trade their freedom in for the domesticated life.

Antidepressants plus blood thinners cause brain cancer cells to eat themselves in mice

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:25 AM PDT

Antidepressants work against brain cancer by excessively increasing tumor autophagy (a process that causes the cancer cells to eat themselves), new research shows. The scientists next combined the antidepressants with blood thinners -- also known to increase autophagy -- as a treatment for mice with the first stages of human glioblastoma. Mouse lifespan doubled with the drug combination therapy, while either drug alone had no effect.

Mobile app records our erratic eating habits

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 11:25 AM PDT

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner? For too many of us, the three meals of the day go more like: office meeting pastry, mid-afternoon energy drink, and midnight pizza. In a new article, scientists present daily food and beverage intake data collected from over 150 participants of a mobile research app over three weeks. They show that a majority of people eat for 15 hours or longer.

Leukemia tumor suppressor identified

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 09:44 AM PDT

A protein-coding gene called hnRNP K has been identified as a tumor suppressor for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a finding that could be important for investigating how best to target treatment of a blood cancer striking mostly older individuals.

New methodology tracks changes in DNA methylation in real time at single-cell resolution

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 09:44 AM PDT

A tool that allows scientists to monitor changes in DNA methylation over time in individual cells has been developed by a group of researchers. Certain diseases, including cancer, cause changes in DNA methylation patterns, and the ability to document these alterations could aid in the development of novel therapies.

Newly identified biochemical pathway could be target for insulin control

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 09:44 AM PDT

Researchers are reporting the identification of a new biochemical pathway to control insulin secretion from islet beta cells in the pancreas, establishing a potential target for insulin control.

Stem cell research hints at evolution of human brain

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 09:44 AM PDT

Researchers have succeeded in mapping the genetic signature of a unique group of stem cells in the human brain that seem to generate most of the neurons in our massive cerebral cortex.

Faster resistance analysis for patients with blood poisoning

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 09:42 AM PDT

When treating cases of blood poisoning, doctors resort immediately to broad-spectrum antibiotics. The problem is that in many cases the bacteria are resistant to the medicine. Analyzing antibiotic resistance is a time-consuming process, and for many patients the results come too late. Now a new technique has been developed that supplies results in just nine hours.

Promising drugs turn immune system on cancer

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 09:41 AM PDT

A class of experimental drug treatments already in clinical trials could also help the body's immune system to fight cancer, according to a study.

Medications to treat opioid use disorders: New guideline released

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 09:41 AM PDT

Medications play an important role in managing patients with opioid use disorders, but there are not enough physicians with the knowledge and ability to use these often-complex treatments. New evidence-based recommendations on the use of prescription medications for the treatment of opioid addiction have now been published.

Protein conjugation method offers new possibilities for biomaterials

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 09:40 AM PDT

A novel method in which protein-polymer conjugates can display new and unique types of functionalities has been demonstrated by a team of researchers.

Shooting lightning out of the sky

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 09:40 AM PDT

A team of researchers has demonstrated new techniques that bring lasers as lighting rods closer to reality. When a powerful laser beam shoots through the air, it ionizes the molecules, leaving a thin trail of hot, ionized particles in its wake. Because this stream of plasma conducts electricity, it could be used to channel away a potentially damaging lightning bolt. The researchers found ways to make the length of such a plasma channel reach more than 10 times longer -- a necessary advance for using the channel to redirect a lightning strike.

Do patients with age-related macular degeneration have trouble with touch screens?

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 09:40 AM PDT

Older adults with central vision loss caused by age-related macular degeneration have no problem with accuracy in performing touch screen tasks, according to a study.

Amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's, diabetes: Novel leads for inhibitors

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 09:40 AM PDT

When proteins change their structure and clump together, formation of amyloid fibrils and plaques may occur. Such 'misfolding' and 'protein aggregation' processes damage cells and cause diseases such as Alzheimer's and type 2 diabetes. A team of scientists have now developed molecules that suppress protein aggregation and could pave the way for new treatments to combat Alzheimer's, type 2 diabetes and other cell-degenerative diseases.

Hybrid ultrasmall gold nanocluster for enzymatic fuel cells

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 09:40 AM PDT

With fossil-fuel sources dwindling, better biofuel cell design is a strong candidate in the energy field. In a new study, researchers and external collaborators synthesized and characterized a new DNA-templated gold nanocluster (AuNC) that could resolve a critical methodological barrier for efficient biofuel cell design.

Childhood brain tumors affect working memory of adult survivors, study finds

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 09:40 AM PDT

Adult survivors of childhood brain tumors have lower working memory performance compared to healthy adults, according to researchers. The report suggests that adult survivors of pediatric posterior fossa brain tumors performed significantly lower than controls on standardized clinical tests of working memory performance administered in the study.

'Immune camouflage' may explain H7N9 influenza vaccine failure

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 08:25 AM PDT

The avian influenza A (H7N9) virus has been a major concern since the first outbreak in China in 2013. Due to its high rate of lethality and pandemic potential, H7N9 vaccine development has become a priority for public health officials. However, candidate vaccines have failed to elicit the strong immune responses necessary to protect from infection. A study has revealed that it may be due to immune camouflage.

Simplified diagnosis of celiac disease

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 08:25 AM PDT

Diagnosis of celiac disease requires a tissue sample from the small intestine, which can be extremely unpleasant. Researchers have now developed a blood test which provides a rapid, painless answer.

Female gamers a new risk group for overweight

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 08:24 AM PDT

Young women who play computer games are a new risk group for developing overweight and obesity. This is the finding of a study that includes more than 2,500 Swedes in their 20s.

Fewer patients die at fully accredited hospitals

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 08:24 AM PDT

For the first time, researchers can now demonstrate an association between the level of hospital accreditation and the mortality rate among patients, reports a Danish study.

This year's flu vaccine expected to be a 'good match'

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:44 AM PDT

Every year at this time, we hear it's time to get the flu shot. After last year's vaccine missed the mark, how does the Center for Disease Control regain the public's confidence that their predictions will hold up this year? With the facts.

Significant differences in frailty found by region, by race among older Americans

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:44 AM PDT

A large-scale survey of older Americans living at home or in assisted living settings found that 15 percent are frail, a diminished state that makes people more vulnerable to falls, chronic disease and disability.

Shrapnel from an exploded star

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:44 AM PDT

Astronomers are comparing new images of the Veil Nebula, taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in April 2015 with Hubble images taken in 1997, to study how the nebula has expanded since it was photographed over 18 years ago. The supernova that created the Veil Nebula would have been briefly visible to our very distant ancestors thousands of years ago as a bright "new star" in the northern sky.

Know your Chardonnay from your Chablis? Scientists reveal new secrets to regional wine variation

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:43 AM PDT

New research has shown for the first time how tiny genetic differences in a single microbe help to produce the distinctive variations in taste and odor between wines from different regions.

The Micronesia Challenge: Sustainable coral reefs and fisheries

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:41 AM PDT

While island societies can do little to control carbon emissions from developed nations, they can manage their local resources to enhance the ecosystem services that coastal habitats, including reefs, provide for people. In this spirit, the political leaders of five nations in Micronesia initiated the Micronesia Challenge, which helps to demonstrates how scientists help managers measure the effectiveness of marine conservation efforts.

Icelandic volcano's toxic gas is triple that of Europe's industry

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:41 AM PDT

A huge volcanic eruption in Iceland emitted on average three times as much of a toxic gas as all European industry combined, a study has revealed. Discharge of lava from the eruption at Bárðarbunga volcano released a huge mass -- up to 120,000 tonnes per day -- of sulphur dioxide gas, which can cause acid rain and respiratory problems.

Nano-mechanical study offers new assessment of silicon for next-gen batteries

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:41 AM PDT

A detailed nano-mechanical study of mechanical degradation processes in silicon structures containing varying levels of lithium ions offers good news for researchers attempting to develop reliable next-generation rechargeable batteries using silicon-based electrodes.

Number of young female anesthesiologists increases, but wages lower than male colleagues

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:41 AM PDT

A study has analyzed a 2013 survey of members of the American Society of Anesthesiologists that found 40 percent of anesthesiologists under the age of 36 were female, a substantial increase over 2007 when 26 percent of young anesthesiologists were women. Despite an increasing number of women anesthesiologists, the study found male anesthesiologists earned 29 percent more than female anesthesiologists, with a reported average annual income of $403,616 for men compared to $313,074 for women.

Telecommuting works best in moderation, science shows

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:41 AM PDT

Organizations are increasingly offering employees a variety of work-from-home options despite sometimes conflicting evidence about the effectiveness of telecommuting. A comprehensive new report reveals that telecommuting can boost employee job satisfaction and productivity, but only when it's carefully implemented with specific individual and organizational factors in mind.

Delayed umbilical cord clamping may benefit some high-risk newborns, research shows

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:41 AM PDT

Preterm infants with delayed cord clamping had higher blood pressure readings in the first 24 hours of life and needed fewer red blood cell transfusions in their first 28 days than infants whose umbilical cords were immediately clamped, a study has found.

Arteries better than veins for liquid biopsy

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:19 AM PDT

Arteries contain higher numbers of circulating tumor cells than veins in uveal melanoma patients, raising a concern for standard technique for detection of tumor cells in the blood, research shows, and therefore is a better choice when conducting a liquid biopsy.

Climate change consensus extends beyond climate scientists

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:19 AM PDT

A survey of nearly 700 scientists from non-climate disciplines shows that more than 90 percent believe that average global temperatures are higher than pre-1800s levels and that human activity has significantly contributed to the rise.

DNA-based nanodevices for molecular medicine

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:19 AM PDT

A new article discusses how DNA molecules can be assembled into tailored and complex nanostructures, and further, how these structures can find uses in therapeutics and bionanotechnological applications. The researchers outline the superior properties of DNA nanostructures. Moreover, these DNA nanostructures provide new applications in molecular medicine, such as novel approaches in tackling cancer. Tailored DNA structures could find targeted cells and release their molecular payload selectively into the cells.

Culture during childhood shapes family planning

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:18 AM PDT

Family planning is not just what we decide consciously as adults. Young parents are noticeably impressed by childhood experiences, as a new analysis on Turkish migrant data proves. Women born in Turkey who moved to Germany after entering school became mothers more often and at younger age than women who were born to Turkish parents in Germany. Both groups have children earlier and more frequently than Western German non-migrants, research shows.

Women with moderate beer consumption run lower risk of heart attack

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:18 AM PDT

Women who drink beer at most once or twice per week run a 30 percent lower risk of heart attack, compared with both heavy drinkers and women who never drink beer. These are the findings of a Swedish study which has followed 1,500 women over a period of almost 50 years.

Vaccination on the horizon for severe viral infection of the brain

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 07:18 AM PDT

Researchers reveal possible new treatment methods for a rare, usually fatal brain disease. Thanks to their discovery that specific antibodies play a key role in combating the viral infection, a vaccine against the disease 'progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy' could now be developed.

Techniques could create better material, design in high-consequence uses

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 05:40 AM PDT

Researchers are studying additive manufacturing and its potential for high-consequence applications. Two aspects of that effort are to understand both the properties of newly formed materials and how to design to get just what's needed without over-designing.

Helping breast cancer patients with a challenging decision

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 05:40 AM PDT

The decision making process women with non-hereditary breast cancer undergo when considering the removal of a healthy breast is a difficult one, and one that has been the focus of recent study. The aim of this new research is to develop a web-based tool to aid them in this process.

Lower sperm motility in men exposed to common chemical

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 05:39 AM PDT

Men with higher exposure to the substance DEHP, a so-called phthalate, have lower sperm motility and may therefore experience more difficulties conceiving children, according to a new study.

Tiny plankton can play a major role in carbon dioxide storage in the oceans

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 05:39 AM PDT

Tiny zooplankton animals, each no bigger than a grain of rice, may be playing a huge part in regulating climate change, research has found.

Gel study uncovers unexpected dynamics

Posted: 24 Sep 2015 05:36 AM PDT

Important new information about the dynamics of bacterial gels has been revealed by research, which could ultimately suggest new ways of helping prevent or better control diseases such as cystic fibrosis.