ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Oh, my stars and hexagons! DNA code shapes gold nanoparticles
• Hyenas that think outside the box solve problems faster
• Test vaccine successfully protects monkeys from Nipah virus
• Scientists show two-drug combination has potential to fight cocaine addiction
• Chronic exposure to staph bacteria may be risk factor for lupus
• Shark teeth help scientists uncover predator's history
• New phenomenon in nanodisk magnetic vortices
• Researchers collect and reuse enzymes while maintaining bioactivity
• Why do older adults display more positive emotion? It might have to do with what they're looking at
• Early human ancestors had more variable diet
• New atmospheric compound tied to climate change, human health
• Hibernation altered by climate change takes a toll on Rocky Mountain animal species
• New Kenyan fossils shed light on early human evolution
• Physics and math shed new light on biology by mapping the landscape of evolution
• A molecule central to diabetes is uncovered
• One in three post-partum women suffers PTSD symptoms after giving birth: Natural births a major cause of post-traumatic stress, study suggests
• Diversity keeps grasslands resilient to drought, climate change
• Protein that boosts longevity may protect against diabetes: Sirtuins help fight off disorders linked to obesity
• Boys appear to be more vulnerable than girls to the insecticide chlorpyrifos: Lower IQs seen in boys exposed in the womb to comparable amounts of the chemical
• New substances 15,000 times more effective in destroying chemical warfare agents
• Advanced explosives detector sniffs out previously undetectable amounts of TNT
• Leveraging bacteria in drinking water to benefit consumers
• July 2012 marked hottest month on record for contiguous U.S.; Drought expands to cover nearly 63 percent of the Lower 48
• Unusual weather events identified during 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Australia
• Mockup Orion stack shows path to launch
• Mission success for MSL Entry, Descent, & Landing Instrument (MEDLI)
• Molecular economics: New computer models calculate systems-wide costs of gene expression
• New model synapse could shed light on disorders such as epilepsy and anxiety
• First BOSS data: 3-D map of 500,000 galaxies, 100,000 quasars
• New 3D map of massive galaxies and black holes offers clues to dark matter, dark energy
• New global warming culprit: Methane emissions jump dramatically during dam drawdowns
• No difference in death rates among patients exposed to common rheumatoid arthritis drugs, study suggests
• Learning: Stressed people use different strategies and brain regions
• Scientists discover the truth behind Colbert's 'truthiness'
• More effective treatments for throat and cervical cancer?
• Patterns in adolescent brains could predict heavy alcohol use

Oh, my stars and hexagons! DNA code shapes gold nanoparticles Posted: 08 Aug 2012 01:32 PM PDT DNA holds the genetic code for all sorts of biological molecules and traits. But researchers have found that DNA's code can similarly shape metallic structures. The team found that DNA segments can direct the shape of gold nanoparticles -- tiny gold crystals that have many applications in medicine, electronics and catalysis. Each of the four DNA bases codes for a different gold particle shape: rough round particles, stars, flat round discs, and hexagons.

Hyenas that think outside the box solve problems faster Posted: 08 Aug 2012 01:32 PM PDT Innovative problem solving requires trying many different solutions. That's true for humans, and now Michigan State University researchers show that it's true for hyenas, too.

Test vaccine successfully protects monkeys from Nipah virus Posted: 08 Aug 2012 11:21 AM PDT Researchers have successfully tested in monkeys a vaccine against Nipah virus, a human pathogen that emerged in 1998 during a large outbreak of infection and disease among pigs and pig farmers in Southeast Asia. This latest advance builds upon earlier work by the scientists, who found that the same vaccine can protect cats from Nipah virus and ferrets and horses from the closely related Hendra virus.

Scientists show two-drug combination has potential to fight cocaine addiction Posted: 08 Aug 2012 11:21 AM PDT A fine-tuned combination of two existing pharmaceutical drugs has shown promise as a potential new therapy for people addicted to cocaine -— a therapy that would reduce their craving for the drug and blunt their symptoms of withdrawal.

Chronic exposure to staph bacteria may be risk factor for lupus Posted: 08 Aug 2012 11:20 AM PDT Chronic exposure to even small amounts of staph bacteria could be a risk factor for the chronic inflammatory disease lupus, new research shows.

Shark teeth help scientists uncover predator's history Posted: 08 Aug 2012 11:19 AM PDT Biologists are studying living great whites and other sharks – as well as fossilized shark teeth – to gain insight into shark behavior and ancestry using the latest in computed tomography scans to analyze shark tooth anatomy, development and evolution.

New phenomenon in nanodisk magnetic vortices Posted: 08 Aug 2012 10:27 AM PDT New findings suggest that the road to magnetic vortex RAM might be more difficult to navigate than previously supposed, but there might be unexpected rewards as well. Contrary to suppositions, the formation of magnetic vortices in ferromagnetic nanodisks is an asymmetric phenomenon.

Researchers collect and reuse enzymes while maintaining bioactivity Posted: 08 Aug 2012 10:27 AM PDT Researchers are collecting and harvesting enzymes while maintaining the enzyme's bioactivity. The new model system may impact cancer research.

Why do older adults display more positive emotion? It might have to do with what they're looking at Posted: 08 Aug 2012 10:27 AM PDT Research has shown that older adults display more positive emotions and are quicker to regulate out of negative emotional states than younger adults. Given the declines in cognitive functioning and physical health that tend to come with age, we might expect that age would be associated with worse moods, not better ones. So what explains older adults' positive mood regulation?

Early human ancestors had more variable diet Posted: 08 Aug 2012 10:27 AM PDT New research sheds more light on the diet and home ranges of early hominins belonging to three different genera, notably Australopithecus, Paranthropus and Homo -- that were discovered at sites such as Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Kromdraai in the Cradle of Humankind, about 50 kilometers from Johannesburg. Australopithecus existed before the other two genera evolved about 2 million years ago.

New atmospheric compound tied to climate change, human health Posted: 08 Aug 2012 10:27 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a surprising new chemical compound in Earth's atmosphere that reacts with sulfur dioxide to form sulfuric acid, which is known to have significant impacts on climate and health. The new compound, a type of carbonyl oxide, is formed from the reaction of ozone with alkenes, which are a family of hydrocarbons with both natural and human-made sources.

Hibernation altered by climate change takes a toll on Rocky Mountain animal species Posted: 08 Aug 2012 10:27 AM PDT Climate change is causing a late wake-up call from hibernation for a species of Rocky Mountain ground squirrel and the effect is deadly. Biologists have examined data on a population of Columbian ground squirrels and found a trend of late spring snow falls has delayed the animals' emergence from hibernation by 10 days over the last 20 years.

New Kenyan fossils shed light on early human evolution Posted: 08 Aug 2012 10:27 AM PDT Exciting new fossils discovered east of Lake Turkana confirm that there were two additional species of our genus -- Homo -- living alongside our direct human ancestral species, Homo erectus, almost two million years ago.

Physics and math shed new light on biology by mapping the landscape of evolution Posted: 08 Aug 2012 10:24 AM PDT Researchers capture evolutionary dynamics in a new theoretical framework that could help explain some of the mysteries of how and why species change over time.

A molecule central to diabetes is uncovered Posted: 08 Aug 2012 09:19 AM PDT At its most fundamental level, diabetes is a disease characterized by stress -- microscopic stress that causes inflammation and the loss of insulin production in the pancreas, and system-wide stress due to the loss of that blood-sugar-regulating hormone.

One in three post-partum women suffers PTSD symptoms after giving birth: Natural births a major cause of post-traumatic stress, study suggests Posted: 08 Aug 2012 09:19 AM PDT Doctors are still divided about whether childbirth qualifies as a "traumatic event." But new research now indicates that approximately one-third of all post-partum women exhibit some symptoms of PTSD, and a smaller percentage develop full-blown PTSD following labor.

Diversity keeps grasslands resilient to drought, climate change Posted: 08 Aug 2012 09:19 AM PDT Grasslands should come out as the winner with increased periods and intensity of drought predicted in the future.

Protein that boosts longevity may protect against diabetes: Sirtuins help fight off disorders linked to obesity Posted: 08 Aug 2012 09:19 AM PDT According to a new study, a protein that slows aging in mice and other animals also protects against the ravages of a high-fat diet, including diabetes.

Boys appear to be more vulnerable than girls to the insecticide chlorpyrifos: Lower IQs seen in boys exposed in the womb to comparable amounts of the chemical Posted: 08 Aug 2012 09:19 AM PDT A new study is the first to find a difference between how boys and girls respond to prenatal exposure to the insecticide chlorpyrifos. Researchers have found that, at age seven, boys had greater difficulty with working memory, a key component of IQ, than girls with similar exposures.

New substances 15,000 times more effective in destroying chemical warfare agents Posted: 08 Aug 2012 09:19 AM PDT In an advance that could be used in masks to protect against nerve gas, scientists are reporting development of proteins that are up to 15,000 times more effective than their natural counterpart in destroying chemical warfare agents.

Advanced explosives detector sniffs out previously undetectable amounts of TNT Posted: 08 Aug 2012 09:19 AM PDT With the best explosive detectors often unable to sniff out the tiny amounts of TNT released from terrorist bombs in airports and other public places, scientists are reporting a potential solution. New research describes the development of a device that concentrates TNT vapors in the air so that they become more detectable.

Leveraging bacteria in drinking water to benefit consumers Posted: 08 Aug 2012 09:18 AM PDT Contrary to popular belief, purified drinking water from home faucets contains millions to hundreds of millions of widely differing bacteria per gallon, and scientists have discovered a plausible way to manipulate those populations of mostly beneficial microbes to potentially benefit consumers.

July 2012 marked hottest month on record for contiguous U.S.; Drought expands to cover nearly 63 percent of the Lower 48 Posted: 08 Aug 2012 08:50 AM PDT According to NOAA scientists, the average temperature for the contiguous U.S. during July was 77.6°F, 3.3°F above the 20th century average, marking the hottest July and the hottest month on record for the nation. The previous warmest July for the nation was July 1936 when the average U.S. temperature was 77.4°F. The warm July temperatures contributed to a record-warm first seven months of the year and the warmest 12-month period the nation has experienced since recordkeeping began in 1895.

Unusual weather events identified during 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Australia Posted: 08 Aug 2012 07:45 AM PDT Research has revealed that the extremely hot, dry and windy conditions on Black Saturday in the Australian state of Victoria combined with structures in the atmosphere called 'horizontal convective rolls' -- similar to streamers of wind flowing through the air -- which likely affected fire behavior.

Mockup Orion stack shows path to launch Posted: 08 Aug 2012 06:42 AM PDT The Vehicle Assembly Building's transfer aisle offered a glimpse of the future recently as a full-size Orion spacecraft mock-up was placed atop a model of the service module so engineers and technicians could determine the exact dimensions for connectors that will run from the launch pad structure to the spacecraft before liftoff.

Mission success for MSL Entry, Descent, & Landing Instrument (MEDLI) Posted: 08 Aug 2012 06:40 AM PDT Mission success for the MSL Entry, Descent, & Landing Instrument (MEDLI) Suite. When the Curiosity rover touched down on the red planet Aug. 6 at 12:32 p.m. CDT, NASA MEDLI researchers were already cheering. The instrumentation payload, carried in the entry vehicle's heatshield, included an intricate array of sophisticated engineering sensors designed to measure heat, pressure and other conditions impacting the heatshield during atmospheric entry and descent. The shield is jettisoned prior to landing.

Molecular economics: New computer models calculate systems-wide costs of gene expression Posted: 08 Aug 2012 06:39 AM PDT Bioengineers have developed a method of modeling, simultaneously, an organism's metabolism and its underlying gene expression. In the emerging field of systems biology, scientists model cellular behavior in order to understand how processes such as metabolism and gene expression relate to one another and bring about certain characteristics in the larger organism.

New model synapse could shed light on disorders such as epilepsy and anxiety Posted: 08 Aug 2012 06:38 AM PDT A new way to study the role of a critical neurotransmitter in disorders such as epilepsy, anxiety, insomnia, depression, schizophrenia, and alcoholism has been developed. The new method involves molecularly engineering a model synapse that can precisely control a variety of receptors for a neurotransmitter that is important in brain chemistry. The research opens the door to the possibility of creating safer and more-efficient drugs that target GABA receptors and that cause fewer side effects.

First BOSS data: 3-D map of 500,000 galaxies, 100,000 quasars Posted: 08 Aug 2012 06:38 AM PDT Now available to the public: spectroscopic data from over 500,000 galaxies up to 7 billion light years away, over 100,000 quasars up to 11.5 billion light years away, and many thousands of other astronomical objects in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey's Data Release 9. This is the first data from BOSS, the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, the largest spectroscopic survey ever for measuring evolution of large-scale galactic structure.

New 3D map of massive galaxies and black holes offers clues to dark matter, dark energy Posted: 08 Aug 2012 06:34 AM PDT Astronomers have constructed the largest-ever three-dimensional map of massive galaxies and distant black holes, which will help the investigation of the mysterious "dark matter" and "dark energy" that make up 96 percent of the universe.

New global warming culprit: Methane emissions jump dramatically during dam drawdowns Posted: 08 Aug 2012 05:14 AM PDT Researchers have documented an underappreciated suite of players in global warming: dams, the water reservoirs behind them, and surges of greenhouse gases as water levels go up and down. In separate studies, researchers saw methane levels jump 20- and 36-fold during drawdowns.

No difference in death rates among patients exposed to common rheumatoid arthritis drugs, study suggests Posted: 08 Aug 2012 05:13 AM PDT New research confirms no significant difference in the rates of death among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were exposed to one of several TNF inhibitors used to treat RA, adalimumab (Humira), etanercept (Enbrel), and infliximab (Remicade).

Learning: Stressed people use different strategies and brain regions Posted: 08 Aug 2012 05:13 AM PDT Stressed and non-stressed people use different brain regions and different strategies when learning. Non-stressed individuals applied a deliberate learning strategy, while stressed subjects relied more on their gut feeling.

Scientists discover the truth behind Colbert's 'truthiness' Posted: 08 Aug 2012 05:13 AM PDT A picture inflates the perceived truth of true and false claims. Trusting research over their guts, scientists in New Zealand and Canada examined the phenomenon Stephen Colbert, comedian and news satirist, calls "truthiness" -- the feeling that something is true. In four different experiments they discovered that people believe claims are true, regardless of whether they actually are true, when a decorative photograph appears alongside the claim.

More effective treatments for throat and cervical cancer? Posted: 08 Aug 2012 05:13 AM PDT A breakthrough could lead to more effective treatments for throat and cervical cancer. The discovery could see the development of new therapies, which would target the non-cancerous cells surrounding a tumor, as well as treating the tumor itself.

Patterns in adolescent brains could predict heavy alcohol use Posted: 08 Aug 2012 04:37 AM PDT Heavy drinking is known to affect an adolescents' developing brain, but certain patterns of brain activity may also help predict which teens are at risk of becoming problem drinkers, according to a new study.

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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Conflict of interest declarations in off-label drug use inadequate, experts say
• New non-toxic disinfectant could tackle hospital infections
• Planting the seeds of defense: Stress triggers widespread epigenetic changes that aid in disease resistance
• Orbiter images NASA's latest additions to Martian landscape
• Can nature parks save biodiversity?
• Thinner diabetics face higher death rate
• Cholesterol levels appear to be improving among US youths
• Transformed X-48c flies successfully
• Shedding new light on how jaws evolve
• Control of devastating cassava virus in Africa demonstrated
• Diseased trees new source of climate gas
• New pathway for invasive species -- science teachers
• Chemists advance clear conductive thin films
• Drug successfully halts fibrosis in animal model of liver disease
• Nanoparticle discovery opens door for pharmaceuticals
• California's hydropower stations to generate less electricity in summer as climate warms
• Composite nanofibers open next chapter in orthopaedic biomaterials
• Genetic analyses reveal novel mutations as causes of startle disease
• Searching for tumors or handguns can be like looking for food
• New gene linked to PTSD identified
• Division of labor offers insight into the evolution of multicellular life
• Greater working memory capacity benefits analytic, but not creative, problem-solving
• Corticosteroids not effective for treating acute sinusitis, study suggests
• A simple way to help cities monitor traffic more accurately
• TRPM7 protein key to breast cancer metastasis in animal models
• Using millions of years of cell evolution in fight against cancer
• The economic cost of increased temperatures: Warming episodes hurt poor countries and limit long-term growth
• Should young men be vaccinated against human papilloma virus?
• What makes Paris look like Paris? Software finds stylistic core
• Advance in X-ray imaging shines light on nanomaterials
• Higgs transition of north and south poles of electrons in a magnet
• Health insurance: Those who are covered, recover
• Lower risk of serious side-effects in trials of new targeted drugs, study suggests
• Dyslexia caused by faulty signal processing in brain; Finding offers clues to potential treatments
• Preserving an icon: Impact of historical domestic cattle hybridization with American bison revealed
• Study finds with vacant lots greened, residents feel safer
• High risk of bleeding from brain blood vessel abnormalities during pregnancy
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs may be linked to increased cataract risk
• Birds do better in 'agroforests' than on farms
• Paddlefish's doubled genome may question theories on limb evolution
• Why do infants get sick so often? Cell signaling prevents growth of essential immune cells, study shows
• Depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts found in former finasteride users
• Holy bat detector! Ecologists develop first Europe-wide bat ID tool
• Few kids use recommended safety restraints in cars
• Eco-computer with a natural wood look
• Using wastewater as fertilizer
• Cannabis as painkiller
• Bruce Willis couldn’t save us from asteroid doom
• Astronomers crack mystery of the 'monster' stars
• Epileptic fits are like raging thunderstorms: Astrocytes help reduce long-term damage, surprising new research shows
• 2012 the hottest year on record for Northeast, US
• New metamaterials device focuses sound waves like a camera lens
• Children's healthy diets linked to higher IQ
• New Mars rover beams back images showing its descent
• A 'learning health system' moves from idea to action
• Mothers, children underestimate obesity in China
• The scientific side of steroid use and abuse

Conflict of interest declarations in off-label drug use inadequate, experts say Posted: 07 Aug 2012 04:42 PM PDT Conflict-of-interest statements made by physicians and scientists in their medical journal articles after they had been allegedly paid by pharmaceutical manufacturers as part of off-label marketing programs are often inadequate, highlighting the deficiencies in relying on author candidness and the weaknesses in some journal practices in ensuring proper disclosure, according to a new study.

New non-toxic disinfectant could tackle hospital infections Posted: 07 Aug 2012 04:40 PM PDT A new disinfectant, Akwaton, that works at extremely low concentrations could be used in healthcare settings to help control persistent hospital-acquired infections such as Clostridium difficile. Researchers tested the new compound, Akwaton, against bacterial spores that attach to surfaces and are difficult to destroy. Previous work has shown Akwaton is also effective at low concentrations against strains of Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Planting the seeds of defense: Stress triggers widespread epigenetic changes that aid in disease resistance Posted: 07 Aug 2012 04:40 PM PDT It was long thought that methylation, a crucial part of normal organism development, was a static modification of DNA that could not be altered by environmental conditions. New findings, however, suggest that the DNA of organisms exposed to stress undergo changes in DNA methylation patterns that alter how genes are regulated.

Orbiter images NASA's latest additions to Martian landscape Posted: 07 Aug 2012 03:30 PM PDT Late Monday night, an image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured the Curiosity rover and the components that helped it survive its seven-minute ordeal from space to its present location in Mars' Gale Crater.

Can nature parks save biodiversity? Posted: 07 Aug 2012 01:10 PM PDT As human activities put increasing pressures on natural systems and wildlife to survive, 200 scientists around the world carved up pieces of the puzzle to present a clearer picture of reality and find ways to mitigate the destructive forces at work.

Thinner diabetics face higher death rate Posted: 07 Aug 2012 01:10 PM PDT American adults of a normal weight with new-onset diabetes die at a higher rate than overweight/obese adults with the same disease, according to a new study.

Cholesterol levels appear to be improving among US youths Posted: 07 Aug 2012 01:10 PM PDT In a study involving more than 16,000 U.S. children and adolescents, there has been a decrease in average total cholesterol levels over the past 2 decades, although almost 1 in 10 had elevated total cholesterol in 2007-2010.

Transformed X-48c flies successfully Posted: 07 Aug 2012 12:18 PM PDT The remotely piloted X-48C aircraft successfully flew for the first time Aug. 7 at Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert. The aircraft, designed by The Boeing Co. and built by Cranfield Aerospace Limited of the United Kingdom, is flying again in partnership with NASA. The new X-48C model, which was formerly the X-48B Blended Wing Body aircraft, was modified to evaluate the low-speed stability and control of a low-noise version of a notional, future Hybrid Wing Body (HWB) aircraft design. The HWB design stems from concept studies being conducted by NASA's Environmentally Responsible Aviation project of future potential aircraft designs 20 years from now.

Shedding new light on how jaws evolve Posted: 07 Aug 2012 12:13 PM PDT If you're looking for information on the evolution and function of jaws, a new integrative research program has some answers. Scientists are investigating major adaptive and morphological transformations in the mammalian musculoskeletal system during development and across higher-level groups.

Control of devastating cassava virus in Africa demonstrated Posted: 07 Aug 2012 12:13 PM PDT Scientists recently demonstrated progress in protecting cassava against cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), a serious virus disease, in a confined field trial in Uganda using an RNA interference technology.

Diseased trees new source of climate gas Posted: 07 Aug 2012 12:13 PM PDT Diseased trees in forests may be a significant new source of methane that causes climate change, according to researchers.

New pathway for invasive species -- science teachers Posted: 07 Aug 2012 12:13 PM PDT A survey of teachers from the United States and Canada found that one out of four educators who used live animals as part of their science curriculum released the organisms into the wild after they were done using them in the classroom.

Chemists advance clear conductive thin films Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:23 AM PDT Thin, conductive films are useful in displays and solar cells. A new solution-based chemistry for making indium tin oxide films could allow engineers to employ a much simpler and cheaper manufacturing process.

Drug successfully halts fibrosis in animal model of liver disease Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:23 AM PDT A potential new NADPH oxidase inhibitor therapy for liver fibrosis, a scarring process associated with chronic liver disease that can lead to loss of liver function.

Nanoparticle discovery opens door for pharmaceuticals Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:23 AM PDT What a student thought was a failed experiment has led to a serendipitous discovery hailed by some scientists as a potential game changer for the mass production of nanoparticles.

California's hydropower stations to generate less electricity in summer as climate warms Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:23 AM PDT California's hydropower is vulnerable to climate change, a scientist has advised policymakers. According to the scientist, if California loses snowpack under climate warming, high-elevation hydropower-plant reservoirs may not be able to store enough water for hydropower generation in summer months when the demand is much higher and hydropower is priced higher.

Composite nanofibers open next chapter in orthopaedic biomaterials Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:23 AM PDT Scientists have developed and validated a new technology in which composite nanofibrous scaffolds provide a loose enough structure for cells to colonize without impediment, but still can instruct cells how to lay down new tissue.

Genetic analyses reveal novel mutations as causes of startle disease Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:22 AM PDT Two new studies identify genetic mutations that play important roles in the condition commonly referred to as startle disease. Startle disease is characterized by an exaggerated response to noise and touch, which can interfere with breathing, cause catastrophic falls and even result in death. The newly identified genetic mutations affect how the signaling molecule glycine, which is responsible for sending messages between nerve cells, is both moved around and used in these cells.

Searching for tumors or handguns can be like looking for food Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:22 AM PDT If past experience makes you think there's going to be one more cashew at the bottom of the bowl, you're likely to search through those mixed nuts a little longer. But what keeps the attention of a radiologist or baggage screener who can go hours without finding anything? The answer may be to make those professional searchers believe there are more targets to be found.

New gene linked to PTSD identified Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:22 AM PDT Investigators have identified a new gene linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The findings indicate that a gene known to play a role in protecting brain cells from the damaging effects of stress may also be involved in the development of PTSD.

Division of labor offers insight into the evolution of multicellular life Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:22 AM PDT Dividing tasks among different individuals is a more efficient way to get things done, whether you are an ant, a honeybee or a human. A new study suggests that this efficiency may also explain a key transition in evolutionary history, from single-celled to multi-celled organisms.

Greater working memory capacity benefits analytic, but not creative, problem-solving Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:22 AM PDT Psychological scientists have long known that the amount of information we can actively hold in mind at any given time – known as working memory – is limited. Our working memory capacity reflects our ability to focus and control attention and strongly influences our ability to solve problems. Psychological scientists find that while increased working memory capacity seems to boost mathematical problem-solving, it might actually get in the way of creative problem solving.

Corticosteroids not effective for treating acute sinusitis, study suggests Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:22 AM PDT Corticosteroids, frequently prescribed to alleviate acute sinusitis, show no clinical benefit in treating the condition, according to a randomized controlled trial.

A simple way to help cities monitor traffic more accurately Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:20 AM PDT New software helps in-road traffic detectors count cars more accurately -- and save city planners money.

TRPM7 protein key to breast cancer metastasis in animal models Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:20 AM PDT The protein transient receptor potential melastatin-like 7 (TRPM7) is a critical determinant of breast cancer cell metastasis, according to new study.

Using millions of years of cell evolution in fight against cancer Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:20 AM PDT Researchers are focusing on ways to fight cancer by attacking defective genes before they are able to make proteins. They are studying micro RNAs (miRNAs), a class of small RNAs that interact with messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that have been linked to a number of diseases, including cancer. Scientists placed two different miRNAs (MiR-7 and MiR-128) into ovarian cancer cells and watched how they affected the gene system.

The economic cost of increased temperatures: Warming episodes hurt poor countries and limit long-term growth Posted: 07 Aug 2012 08:33 AM PDT Even temporary rises in local temperatures significantly damage long-term economic growth in the world's developing nations, according to a new study.

Should young men be vaccinated against human papilloma virus? Posted: 07 Aug 2012 08:33 AM PDT Vaccination against human papilloma virus (HPV) is recommended for young women to protect them from HPV infection and cervical cancer. Male HPV immunization is increasingly a topic of debate in the medical community.

What makes Paris look like Paris? Software finds stylistic core Posted: 07 Aug 2012 08:33 AM PDT Paris is one of those cities that has a look all its own, something that goes beyond landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame. Researchers have developed visual data mining software that can automatically detect these sometimes subtle features, such as street signs, streetlamps and balcony railings, that give Paris and other cities a distinctive look.

Advance in X-ray imaging shines light on nanomaterials Posted: 07 Aug 2012 08:33 AM PDT A new advance in X-ray imaging has revealed the dramatic three-dimensional shape of gold nanocrystals, and is likely to shine a light on the structure of other nano-scale materials.

Higgs transition of north and south poles of electrons in a magnet Posted: 07 Aug 2012 08:32 AM PDT Minimal evidence of a Higgs transition;1 of north and south poles of electron spins was observed in a magnet Yb2Ti2O7 at the absolute temperature;2 0.21 K. A fractionalization of these monopoles from electron spins was observed on cooling to 0.3 K. On further cooling below 0.21 K, the material showed the ferromagnetism to be understood as a superconductivity of monopoles. The work is reported in an online science journal "Nature Communications" in UK on August 7, by an international collaboration team of Dr. Shigeki Onoda (Condensed Matter Theory Lab., RIKEN Advanced Science Institute), Dr. Lieh-Jeng Chang (Quantum Beam Science Dictorate, Japan Atomic Energy Agency and Dept. of Physics, National Cheng Kung Univ.), and Dr. Yixi Su (Jülich Center for Neutron Science JCNS-FRM II, Forschungszentrum Jülich), and coworkers.

Health insurance: Those who are covered, recover Posted: 07 Aug 2012 08:32 AM PDT Underinsured CVD patients die sooner than patients with private insurance, irrespective of race.

Lower risk of serious side-effects in trials of new targeted drugs, study suggests Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:49 AM PDT Patients in early clinical trials of new-style targeted cancer therapies appear to have a much lower risk of the most serious side-effects than with traditional chemotherapy. Researchers analyzed data from 36 Phase I trials. The study found the overall risk to patients of suffering a life-threatening side-effect was around seven times less than for traditional cytotoxic agents.

Dyslexia caused by faulty signal processing in brain; Finding offers clues to potential treatments Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:49 AM PDT Researchers have made a major step forward in understanding the cause of dyslexia. The scientists have discovered an important neural mechanism underlying dyslexia and shown that many difficulties associated with dyslexia can potentially be traced back to a malfunction of the medial geniculate body in the thalamus. The results provide an important basis for developing potential treatments.

Preserving an icon: Impact of historical domestic cattle hybridization with American bison revealed Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:48 AM PDT Plains bison are an iconic symbol of America on everything from coins to state flags. Now scientists are exploring how the cross-breeding of bison with domestic cattle in the late 1800s may still have unwanted effects on modern populations of the species.

Study finds with vacant lots greened, residents feel safer Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:47 AM PDT Greening vacant lots may make neighborhood residents feel safer and may be associated with reductions in certain gun crimes, according to a new study. Results show that residents living near greened vacant lots feel safer than those near non-greened sites.

High risk of bleeding from brain blood vessel abnormalities during pregnancy Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:47 AM PDT A new study supports what neurosurgeons have long suspected —- that pregnancy is an important risk factor for bleeding from arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the brain.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs may be linked to increased cataract risk Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:47 AM PDT Patients using cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may be at increased risk of developing age-related cataracts, according to a study.

Birds do better in 'agroforests' than on farms Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:13 AM PDT Compared with open farmland, wooded "shade" plantations that produce coffee and chocolate promote greater bird diversity, although a new study says forests remain the best habitat for tropical birds. The findings suggest that as open farmland replaces forests and "agroforests" -- where crops are grown under trees – reduced number of bird species and shifts in the populations of various types of birds may hurt "ecosystem services" that birds provide to people, such as eating insect pests, spreading seeds and pollinating crops.

Paddlefish's doubled genome may question theories on limb evolution Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:13 AM PDT The American paddlefish -- known for its bizarre, protruding snout and eggs harvested for caviar -- duplicated its entire genome about 42 million years ago, according to a new study. This finding may add a new twist to the way scientists study how fins evolved into limbs since the paddlefish is often used as a proxy for a more representative ancestor shared by humans and fishes.

Why do infants get sick so often? Cell signaling prevents growth of essential immune cells, study shows Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:13 AM PDT Babies can get sick often, but parents shouldn't take the blame. A new study shows essential immune cells that help fight infections don't develop until adulthood.

Depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts found in former finasteride users Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:13 AM PDT Men who developed persistent sexual side effects while on finasteride (Propecia), a drug commonly used for male pattern hair loss, have a high prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts.

Holy bat detector! Ecologists develop first Europe-wide bat ID tool Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:12 AM PDT Just as differences in song can be used to distinguish one bird species from another, the pips and squeaks bats use to find prey can be used to identify different species of bat. Now, for the first time, ecologists have developed a Europe-wide tool capable of identifying bats from their echolocation calls.

Few kids use recommended safety restraints in cars Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:12 AM PDT Despite the fact that car crashes are the leading cause of death for children older than three years in the U.S. and send more than 140,000 children to the emergency room each year, new research has found that low proportions of U.S. children are using age-appropriate safety restraints and many are placed at risk by riding in the front seat.

Eco-computer with a natural wood look Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:12 AM PDT Surfing for hours on the Internet consumes a lot of electricity and is harmful to the environment. However, a new ecological PC saves energy as it operates: It produces about 70 percent less CO2 than conventional computers.

Using wastewater as fertilizer Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:12 AM PDT Sewage sludge, wastewater and liquid manure are valuable sources of fertilizer for food production. Researchers have now developed a chemical-free, eco-friendly process that enables the recovered salts to be converted directly into organic food for crop plants.

Cannabis as painkiller Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:12 AM PDT Cannabis-based medications have been demonstrated to relieve pain. Cannabis medications can be used in patients whose symptoms are not adequately alleviated by conventional treatment. The indications are muscle spasms, nausea and vomiting as a result of chemotherapy, loss of appetite in HIV/Aids, and neuropathic pain, experts say.

Bruce Willis couldn’t save us from asteroid doom Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:12 AM PDT According to the internet hysteria surrounding the ancient Mayan calendar, an asteroid could be on its way to wipe out the world on December 21, 2012. Obviously this is pretty unlikely -- but if an asteroid really is on its way, could we take a cue from the disaster movie Armageddon in order to save the planet? According to new research the answer is definitely "no."

Astronomers crack mystery of the 'monster' stars Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:12 AM PDT In 2010 scientists discovered four 'monster' sized stars, with the heaviest more than 300 times as massive as our Sun. Despite their incredible luminosity, these exotic objects, located in the giant star cluster R136 in the nearby galaxy the Large Magellanic Cloud; have oddly so far been found nowhere else. Now a group of astronomers have a new explanation: the ultramassive stars were created from the merger of lighter stars in tight binary systems.

Epileptic fits are like raging thunderstorms: Astrocytes help reduce long-term damage, surprising new research shows Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:12 AM PDT Epileptic fits are like thunderstorms raging in the brain: Nerve cells excite each other in an uncontrolled way so that strong, rhythmic electrical discharges sweep over whole brain regions. In the wake of such a seizure, the nerve cells are severely affected, and permanent damage is possible. The glia, a class of cells that surround the neurons in the brain, was long suspected to contribute to the damaging effects of epilepsy. Quite the opposite is the case, researchers show for the first time.

2012 the hottest year on record for Northeast, US Posted: 07 Aug 2012 06:57 AM PDT The Northeast's seven-month average (January through July) of 49.9 degrees was the warmest such period since 1895, the year such record keeping began.

New metamaterials device focuses sound waves like a camera lens Posted: 07 Aug 2012 06:57 AM PDT Researchers have designed and computationally tested a type of humanmade metamaterial capable for the first time of manipulating a variety of acoustic waves with one simple device.

Children's healthy diets linked to higher IQ Posted: 07 Aug 2012 06:57 AM PDT Children fed healthy diets in early age may have a slightly higher IQ, while those on heavier junk food diets may have a slightly reduced IQ, according to new research.

New Mars rover beams back images showing its descent Posted: 07 Aug 2012 04:24 AM PDT Just hours after NASA's Curiosity rover landed on Mars, a select group of images taken by the onboard Mars Descent Imager, or MARDI, were beamed back to Earth. The 297 color, low-resolution images, provide a glimpse of the rover's descent into Gale Crater. They are a preview of the approximately 1,504 images of descent currently held in the rover's onboard memory. When put together in highest resolution, the resulting video is expected to depict the rover's descent from the moment the entry system's heat shield is released through touchdown.

A 'learning health system' moves from idea to action Posted: 06 Aug 2012 02:13 PM PDT In the United States, clinicians are struggling to provide better and more affordable health care to more people -- while keeping up with new scientific developments. The idea of a "learning health system" is one proposed solution for rapidly applying the best available scientific evidence in real-time clinical practice. Experts now describe the experience of turning this intriguing concept into action.

Mothers, children underestimate obesity in China Posted: 06 Aug 2012 01:19 PM PDT Childhood obesity is on the rise in China, and children and parents there tend to underestimate body weight, according to Penn State health policy researchers.

The scientific side of steroid use and abuse Posted: 06 Aug 2012 01:19 PM PDT Scientists are investigating the cellular basis for behavioral changes seen with the abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids. New research looks at three major behavioral systems typically associated with steroid abuse -- reproduction, aggression in males, and anxiety in both sexes. Studies have shown there are "critical periods" -- periods of time during adolescence when exposure to steroids can impose permanent changes in both brain organization and function.

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