ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Evolution is written all over your face
• World's smallest vertebrate: Tiny frogs discovered in New Guinea
• Clue as to why alcohol is addicting: Scientists show that drinking releases brain endorphins
• 'Quantum critical' theory gets experimental boost
• Astronomers find three smallest planets outside solar system
• A diet rich in slowly digested carbs reduces markers of inflammation in overweight and obese adults
• Discovery of the smallest exoplanets: The Barnard's star connection
• Planets with double suns are common
• Scientists predict the next big thing in particle physics: Supersymmetry
• Starving galaxies revealed
• Why do dew drops do what they do on leaves?
• Hubble zooms in on double nucleus in Andromeda galaxy
• Two new planets discovered orbiting double suns
• A wealth of habitable planets in the Milky Way
• Planet population is plentiful: Planets around stars are the rule rather than the exception
• Astronomers discover origin of thermonuclear supernova
• Distant supernova discovery, 9 billion years ago
• Mystery on source of supernova in nearby galaxy solved
• Rare ultra-blue stars found in neighboring galaxy's hub
• First physical evidence of tobacco in Mayan container
• Is there a dark side to moving in sync?
• Parkinson's treatment shows positive results in clinical testing
• Solar energy: New sunflower-inspired pattern increases concentrated solar efficiency
• Lab-made tissue picks up the slack of Petri dishes in cancer research
• New model for epidemic contagion
• Greenhouses and solar power: Crop testing with a special photovoltaic panel for greenhouses
• Omega-3 fatty acids could prevent and treat nerve damage, research suggests
• Touching a nerve: How every hair in skin feels touch and how it all gets to the brain
• Global study sheds light on role of exercise, cars and televisions on the risk of heart attacks
• Cyber project looks to help it professionals with DNS vulnerabilities
• Predators hunt for a balanced diet
• Engineers make 'building blocks of chemical industry' from wood while boosting production 40 percent
• Lower risk of death linked with access to key attributes of primary care
• Sports: Restricting improving technology does not always have expected outcome

Evolution is written all over your face Posted: 11 Jan 2012 07:37 PM PST Why are the faces of primates so dramatically different from one another? Biologists serving as "evolutionary detectives" studied the faces of 129 adult male primates from Central and South America, and offer answers. These faces evolved over at least 24 million years.

World's smallest vertebrate: Tiny frogs discovered in New Guinea Posted: 11 Jan 2012 07:33 PM PST Biologists just discovered two new species of frogs in New Guinea, one of which is now the world's tiniest known vertebrate, averaging only 7.7 millimeters in size -- less than one-third of an inch. It ousts Paedocypris progenetica, an Indonesian fish averaging more than 8 millimeters, from the record.

Clue as to why alcohol is addicting: Scientists show that drinking releases brain endorphins Posted: 11 Jan 2012 12:51 PM PST Drinking alcohol leads to the release of endorphins in areas of the brain that produce feelings of pleasure and reward, according to a new study.

'Quantum critical' theory gets experimental boost Posted: 11 Jan 2012 12:41 PM PST New evidence supports a theory developed five years ago to explain the electrical properties of unconventional superconductors and other classes of materials that have long vexed scientists. Physicists say the new findings represent an important step toward the ultimate goal of creating a unified theoretical description of quantum effects in electronic materials at the border of magnetism and superconductivity.

Astronomers find three smallest planets outside solar system Posted: 11 Jan 2012 12:40 PM PST Astronomers have discovered the three smallest confirmed planets ever detected outside our solar system. The three planets, which all orbit a single star, are smaller than Earth and appear to be rocky. Their existence suggests that the galaxy could be teeming with similarly rocky planets—and that there's a good chance that many are in the so-called habitable zone, where liquid water and possibly life could exist.

A diet rich in slowly digested carbs reduces markers of inflammation in overweight and obese adults Posted: 11 Jan 2012 12:40 PM PST Among overweight and obese adults, a diet rich in slowly digested carbohydrates, such as whole grains, legumes and other high-fiber foods, significantly reduces markers of inflammation associated with chronic disease, according to a new study. Such a "low-glycemic-load" diet, which does not cause blood-glucose levels to spike, also increases a hormone that helps regulate the metabolism of fat and sugar.

Discovery of the smallest exoplanets: The Barnard's star connection Posted: 11 Jan 2012 12:40 PM PST The smallest exoplanets yet discovered orbit a dwarf star almost identical to Barnard's star, one of the sun's nearest neighbors. The similarity helped the astronomers calculate the size of the distant planets.

Planets with double suns are common Posted: 11 Jan 2012 12:40 PM PST Astronomers have discovered two new circumbinary planet systems -- planets that orbit two stars, like Tatooine in the movie Star Wars. Their find, which brings the number of known circumbinary planets to three, shows that planets with two suns must be common, with many millions existing in our galaxy.

Scientists predict the next big thing in particle physics: Supersymmetry Posted: 11 Jan 2012 10:59 AM PST A better understanding of the universe will be the outgrowth of the discovery of the Higgs boson, according to a team of researchers. The team predicts the discovery will lead to supersymmetry or SUSY -- an extension of the standard model of particle physics. SUSY predicts new matter states or super partners for each matter particle already accounted for in the standard model. SUSY theory provides an important new step to a better understanding of the universe we live in.

Starving galaxies revealed Posted: 11 Jan 2012 10:40 AM PST Astronomers using the partially completed ALMA observatory have found compelling evidence for how star-forming galaxies evolve into '"ed and dead" elliptical galaxies, catching a large group of galaxies right in the middle of this change.

Why do dew drops do what they do on leaves? Posted: 11 Jan 2012 10:40 AM PST Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore once wrote, "Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a leaf." Now, a new study is finally offering an explanation for why small dew drops do as Tagore advised and form on the tips, rather than the flat surfaces, of leaves.

Hubble zooms in on double nucleus in Andromeda galaxy Posted: 11 Jan 2012 10:39 AM PST A new Hubble Space Telescope image centers on the 100-million-solar-mass black hole at the hub of the neighboring spiral galaxy M31, or the Andromeda galaxy, the only galaxy outside the Milky Way visible to the naked eye and the only other giant galaxy in the local group.

Two new planets discovered orbiting double suns Posted: 11 Jan 2012 10:39 AM PST Astronomers have discovered two new planets orbiting double star systems, something that had never been seen until last September.

A wealth of habitable planets in the Milky Way Posted: 11 Jan 2012 10:39 AM PST Six years of observations of millions of stars now show how common it is for stars to have planets in orbits around them. Using a method that is sensitive to planets that lie in a habitable zone around the host stars, astronomers have discovered that most of the Milky Way's 100 billion stars have planets that are very similar to the Earth-like planets in our own solar system.

Planet population is plentiful: Planets around stars are the rule rather than the exception Posted: 11 Jan 2012 10:35 AM PST Astronomers have used the technique of gravitational microlensing to measure how common planets are in the Milky Way. After a six-year search that surveyed millions of stars, the team concludes that planets around stars are the rule rather than the exception.

Astronomers discover origin of thermonuclear supernova Posted: 11 Jan 2012 10:35 AM PST Astronomers recently discovered the solution to a long-standing fundamental problem of astrophysics: what produces thermonuclear, or Type Ia, supernovae, which are tremendous explosions where the light is often brighter than a whole galaxy? Astronomers have now demonstrated that these supernova are caused by a pair of white dwarf stars.

Distant supernova discovery, 9 billion years ago Posted: 11 Jan 2012 10:33 AM PST NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has looked deep into the distant universe and detected the feeble glow of a star that exploded more than 9 billion years ago. The sighting is the first finding of an ambitious survey that will help astronomers place better constraints on the nature of dark energy: the mysterious repulsive force that is causing the universe to fly apart ever faster.

Mystery on source of supernova in nearby galaxy solved Posted: 11 Jan 2012 10:33 AM PST Using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have solved a longstanding mystery on the type of star, or so-called progenitor, that caused a supernova in a nearby galaxy. The finding yields new observational data for pinpointing one of several scenarios that trigger such outbursts.

Rare ultra-blue stars found in neighboring galaxy's hub Posted: 11 Jan 2012 08:37 AM PST Peering deep inside the hub of the neighboring Andromeda galaxy, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has uncovered a large, rare population of hot, bright stars.

First physical evidence of tobacco in Mayan container Posted: 11 Jan 2012 08:37 AM PST Anthropologists and other scientists have used ultra-modern chemical analysis technology to analyze ancient Mayan pottery for proof of tobacco use in the ancient culture. They discovered the first physical evidence of tobacco in a Mayan container. Their discovery represents new evidence on the ancient use of tobacco in the Mayan culture and a new method to understand the ancient roots of tobacco use in the Americas.

Is there a dark side to moving in sync? Posted: 11 Jan 2012 07:41 AM PST Moving in harmony can make people feel more connected to one another and, as a result, lead to positive collective action. Think of those feel-good vibes created in a yoga class as students move in unison through their downward-facing dogs. Yet given that synchronized physical activities are also a cornerstone of military training and are the highlights of military propaganda reels, could the interconnectedness created by coordinated action be mined to make people behave destructively instead? Two new studies find aligned action does not always lead to the common good.

Parkinson's treatment shows positive results in clinical testing Posted: 11 Jan 2012 07:40 AM PST Deep brain stimulation -- also known as DBS -- is effective at improving motor symptoms and quality of life in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease, according to new research.

Solar energy: New sunflower-inspired pattern increases concentrated solar efficiency Posted: 11 Jan 2012 07:40 AM PST A new sunflower-inspired pattern increases concentrated solar efficiency.

Lab-made tissue picks up the slack of Petri dishes in cancer research Posted: 11 Jan 2012 07:39 AM PST New research, using oral cancer cells in a three-dimensional model of lab-made tissue, demonstrates that previous models used to examine cancer may not be complex enough to accurately mimic the true cancer environment.

New model for epidemic contagion Posted: 11 Jan 2012 07:39 AM PST Humans are considered the hosts for spreading epidemics. The speed at which an epidemic spreads is now better understood thanks to a new model accounting for the provincial nature of human mobility, according to a new study.

Greenhouses and solar power: Crop testing with a special photovoltaic panel for greenhouses Posted: 11 Jan 2012 07:38 AM PST A new photovoltaic module allows electricity to be generated without greenhouse crops being affected by over-shading.

Omega-3 fatty acids could prevent and treat nerve damage, research suggests Posted: 11 Jan 2012 07:38 AM PST Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil, have the potential to protect nerves from injury and help them to regenerate, new research suggests.

Touching a nerve: How every hair in skin feels touch and how it all gets to the brain Posted: 11 Jan 2012 07:33 AM PST Neuroscientists have discovered how the sense of touch is wired in the skin and nervous system. The new findings open new doors for understanding how the brain collects and processes information from hairy skin.

Global study sheds light on role of exercise, cars and televisions on the risk of heart attacks Posted: 11 Jan 2012 06:06 AM PST A worldwide study has shown that physical activity during work and leisure time significantly lowers the risk of heart attacks in both developed and developing countries. Ownership of a car and a television was linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Cyber project looks to help it professionals with DNS vulnerabilities Posted: 11 Jan 2012 05:56 AM PST Computer scientists have developed a visualization tool known as DNSViz to help network administrators within the federal government and global IT community better understand Domain Name System Security (DNSSEC) and to help them troubleshoot problems.

Predators hunt for a balanced diet Posted: 10 Jan 2012 04:29 PM PST Predators select their prey in order to eat a nutritionally balanced diet and give themselves the best chance of producing healthy offspring. A new study shows for the first time that predatory animals choose their food on the basis of its nutritional value, rather than just overall calorie content.

Engineers make 'building blocks of chemical industry' from wood while boosting production 40 percent Posted: 10 Jan 2012 04:27 PM PST Chemical engineers using a catalytic fast pyrolysis process that transforms renewable non-food biomass into petrochemicals, have developed a new catalyst that boosts the yield for five key "building blocks of the chemical industry" by 40 percent compared to previous methods.

Lower risk of death linked with access to key attributes of primary care Posted: 10 Jan 2012 12:17 PM PST Greater access to features of high-quality primary care -- comprehensiveness, patient-centeredness and extended office hours -- is associated with lower mortality, according to a new national U.S. study.

Sports: Restricting improving technology does not always have expected outcome Posted: 10 Jan 2012 10:24 AM PST New research by a sports economist shows restricting improving technology does not always have the expected outcome. His study suggests that understanding how people react to regulations can aid in policy-making.

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