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• Understanding subduction zone earthquakes: The 2004 Sumatra earthquake
• Photo selection study reveals we don't look like we think we look
• ‘Pick and mix’ smart materials for robotics
• Ebola epidemic in Guinea may have led to 74,000 extra untreated cases of malaria in 2014
• New manufacturing approach slices lithium-ion battery cost in half
• Rapid chemical synthesis of proteins by a new amino acid partner
• What's the impact of marijuana on driving?
• Autistic children improved reading, brain activity after 10-week reading intervention
• Nanoparticle 'wrapper' delivers chemical that stops fatty buildup in rodent arteries
• Bionic eye clinical trial results show long-term safety, efficacy vision-restoring implant
• Study identifies multiple genetic changes linked to increased pancreatic cancer risk
• UVA fertilization discovery may lead to male contraceptive
• Biomanufacturing of CdS quantum dots
• Physicists fine-tune control of agile exotic materials
• Birds of a feather: Pigeon head crest findings extend to domesticated doves
• Iris recognition gives smartphone users more security options, expert says
• Neutron star’s echoes give astronomers a new measuring stick
• Costs of residential energy efficiency investments are double the benefits
• Black holes may make ideal dark matter labs
• Nanowire implants offer remote-controlled drug delivery
• Study predicts variation in illness severity in a population
• No change detected in quality of care with overnight hospital supervision
• Annual low-dose CT screening safe, reliable for identifying pre-cancers
• Multidrug-resistant TB appears less transmissible in households than drug-susceptible TB
• The shame of psychology: Sociologist argues intuition is needed
• Consciousness has less control than believed, according to new theory
• Robust new process forms 3-D shapes from flat sheets of graphene
• The true cost of fuelling conflict
• Generic heart disease medications offer promise for Ebola treatment
• Commodity market volatility more perception than reality
• Pet ownership and its potential benefits for older adults
• Promising new drug combo offers hope for people battling melanoma
• Potential treatment target identified for rare form of diabetes, other disorders
• Reinforced cylinder leads to fewer repeat surgeries for children born with heart defect
• Researchers identify new class of antifungal agents
• X marks the spot: Novel method for controlling plasma rotation confirmed
• Toward tiny, solar-powered sensors
• New light in terahertz window
• Unauthorized immigrants prolong the life of Medicare Trust Fund, study suggests
• Men think they are maths experts, therefore they are
• Survival of the gutless? Filter-feeders eject internal organs in response to stress
• Color memory influenced by categories, according to new research
• When inflammation occurs, kidneys work to protect themselves, researchers find
• Uninterrupted vitamin K antagonists recommended during ablation, device implantation
• How Huntington's disease proteins spread from cell to cell
• Scientists persuade volcanoes to tell their stories
• Old-school literature search helps ecologist identify puzzling parasite
• Diabetes medication reduces dementia risk
• Big data analysis platform to unveil gene interactions in cancer
• No need for sophisticated hunting techniques: Equatorial bats live the easy life
• Single-catalyst water splitter produces clean-burning hydrogen 24/7
• New high-strength steel could help automakers improve fuel efficiency
• Many doctors misunderstand key facets of opioid abuse, study shows
• Can heat be controlled as waves?
• Trial could impact older myelodysplastic syndrome population's access to bone marrow transplants
• Proximity to bike-sharing stations augments property values in city
• Below-average 'dead zone' predicted for Chesapeake Bay in 2015
• Dietary guidelines for Americans shouldn't place limits on total fat intake
• Medical marijuana 'edibles' mostly mislabeled: Many too weak, some surprisingly strong
• Mixed findings regarding quality of evidence supporting benefit of medical marijuana

Understanding subduction zone earthquakes: The 2004 Sumatra earthquake Posted: 23 Jun 2015 05:00 PM PDT The 26 December 2004 Mw ~9.2 Indian Ocean earthquake (also known as the Sumatra-Andaman or Aceh-Andaman earthquake), which generated massive, destructive tsunamis, especially along the Aceh coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, clearly demonstrated the need for a better understanding of how frequently subduction zone earthquakes and tsunamis occur.

Photo selection study reveals we don't look like we think we look Posted: 23 Jun 2015 05:00 PM PDT Be careful when choosing your next passport photo or profile image as a new study suggests we are so poor a picking good likenesses of our face that strangers make better selections.

‘Pick and mix’ smart materials for robotics Posted: 23 Jun 2015 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have successfully combined multiple functions into a single smart life-like material for the first time. These 'designer' materials could be used in the robotics, automotive, aerospace and security industries.

Ebola epidemic in Guinea may have led to 74,000 extra untreated cases of malaria in 2014 Posted: 23 Jun 2015 05:00 PM PDT Around 74,000 fewer malaria cases than expected were seen at health facilities in Guinea in 2014 compared with pre-Ebola years, new research has found. This has led to a rising number of malaria deaths which is likely to greatly exceed the total number of deaths caused by Ebola itself (2,444 in Guinea by June 14, 2015).

New manufacturing approach slices lithium-ion battery cost in half Posted: 23 Jun 2015 03:43 PM PDT An advanced manufacturing approach for lithium-ion batteries promises to significantly slash the cost of the most widely used type of rechargeable batteries while also improving their performance and making them easier to recycle.

Rapid chemical synthesis of proteins by a new amino acid partner Posted: 23 Jun 2015 03:04 PM PDT The development of new methods for the chemical synthesis of proteins is highly significant to access a range of proteins inaccessible by conventional approaches. Chemists have succeeded in the first synthesis of oxazetidine amino acids as a new ligation partner for the rapid and chemoselective synthesis of proteins.

What's the impact of marijuana on driving? Posted: 23 Jun 2015 03:04 PM PDT Drivers who use alcohol and marijuana together weave more on a virtual roadway than drivers who use either substance independently, a new study has found. However, the cocktail of alcohol and marijuana does not double the effect of the impairment.

Autistic children improved reading, brain activity after 10-week reading intervention Posted: 23 Jun 2015 03:04 PM PDT Ten weeks of intensive reading intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder was enough to strengthen the activity of loosely connected areas of their brains that work together to comprehend reading, researchers have found.

Nanoparticle 'wrapper' delivers chemical that stops fatty buildup in rodent arteries Posted: 23 Jun 2015 03:03 PM PDT In what may be a major leap forward in the quest for new treatments of the most common form of cardiovascular disease, scientists report they have found a way to halt and reverse the progression of atherosclerosis in rodents by loading microscopic nanoparticles with a chemical that restores the animals' ability to properly handle cholesterol.

Bionic eye clinical trial results show long-term safety, efficacy vision-restoring implant Posted: 23 Jun 2015 03:03 PM PDT The three-year clinical trial results of the retinal implant popularly known as the 'bionic eye,' have proven the long-term efficacy, safety and reliability of the device that restores vision in those blinded by a rare, degenerative eye disease. The findings show that the Argus II significantly improves visual function and quality of life for people blinded by retinitis pigmentosa.

Study identifies multiple genetic changes linked to increased pancreatic cancer risk Posted: 23 Jun 2015 03:03 PM PDT In a genome-wide association study believed to be the largest of its kind, researchers have uncovered four regions in the human genome where changes may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.

UVA fertilization discovery may lead to male contraceptive Posted: 23 Jun 2015 03:03 PM PDT Groundbreaking new reproductive research has identified key molecular events that could be playing a critical role as sperm and egg fuse to create new life. The findings might one day lead to the creation of a male contraceptive.

Biomanufacturing of CdS quantum dots Posted: 23 Jun 2015 03:03 PM PDT Engineers have demonstrated a bacterial method for the low-cost, environmentally friendly synthesis of aqueous soluble quantum dot nanocrystals at room temperature.

Physicists fine-tune control of agile exotic materials Posted: 23 Jun 2015 03:03 PM PDT Physicists have found a way to control the length and strength of waves of atomic motion called polaritons that have promising potential uses such as fine-scale imaging and the transmission of information within tight spaces. Heterostructures made from graphene and hexagonal boron nitride support hybrid plasmon-phonon polaritons that can be tuned electronically.

Birds of a feather: Pigeon head crest findings extend to domesticated doves Posted: 23 Jun 2015 03:03 PM PDT A few years ago biologists found that a prominent change in pigeon plumage, head crests, could be traced to a mutation in a single gene. Now the research team has found an almost exact repeat in the evolutionary playbook in distantly related doves.

Iris recognition gives smartphone users more security options, expert says Posted: 23 Jun 2015 01:13 PM PDT A new smartphone has been developedwith iris recognition and a professor says the technology is giving people more options to protect their electronic devices and should be available in the United States in the near future.

Neutron star’s echoes give astronomers a new measuring stick Posted: 23 Jun 2015 01:13 PM PDT In late 2013, when the neutron star at the heart of one of our galaxy's oddest supernovae gave off a massive burst of X-rays, the resulting echoes -- created when the X-rays bounced off clouds of dust in interstellar space -- yielded a surprising new measuring stick for astronomers.

Costs of residential energy efficiency investments are double the benefits Posted: 23 Jun 2015 01:13 PM PDT Through a randomized controlled trial of more than 30,000 households in Michigan -- where one-quarter of the households were encouraged to make residential energy efficiency investments and received assistance -- economists find that the costs to deploy the efficiency upgrades were about double the energy savings.

Black holes may make ideal dark matter labs Posted: 23 Jun 2015 01:11 PM PDT A new computer simulation shows that dark matter particles colliding in the extreme gravity of a black hole can produce strong, potentially observable gamma-ray light. Detecting this emission would provide astronomers with a new tool for understanding both black holes and the nature of dark matter, an elusive substance accounting for most of the mass of the universe that neither reflects, absorbs nor emits light.

Nanowire implants offer remote-controlled drug delivery Posted: 23 Jun 2015 01:11 PM PDT A new implantable drug-delivery system has been developed using nanowires that can be wirelessly controlled. The nanowires respond to an electromagnetic field generated by a separate device, which can be used to control the release of a preloaded drug. The system was tested in mice with spinal cord injuries.

Study predicts variation in illness severity in a population Posted: 23 Jun 2015 01:11 PM PDT When individual random quantities, such as reactions in the body, are instead correlated, and multiplied, the process gives rise to the ubiquitous, highly skewed pattern, and that this pattern is more accurately called a Weibull distribution, scientists explain.

No change detected in quality of care with overnight hospital supervision Posted: 23 Jun 2015 01:10 PM PDT With the implementation of an on-site attending-level physician supervising the overnight medical residents, one study has not seen any significant impact on important clinical outcomes, according to medical researchers.

Annual low-dose CT screening safe, reliable for identifying pre-cancers Posted: 23 Jun 2015 01:10 PM PDT An annual exam using a key imaging technology could spare patients with lung nodules from unnecessary tests and surgery. The study authors found the imaging technology, called low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), to be a safe and effective screening tool to monitor those with nonsolid lung nodules, which in some cases are precursors to cancer. Lung nodules are small tissue masses in the lungs that can be benign or cancerous.

Multidrug-resistant TB appears less transmissible in households than drug-susceptible TB Posted: 23 Jun 2015 01:10 PM PDT Some strains of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) may have a lower fitness (be less capable of spreading) than drug-susceptible tuberculosis bacteria, according to a new study. The study compared new tuberculosis cases among household contacts of tuberculosis patients in South Lima and Callao, Peru, to determine the relative fitness of MDRTB vs. drug-susceptible tuberculosis.

The shame of psychology: Sociologist argues intuition is needed Posted: 23 Jun 2015 11:19 AM PDT A sociologist would like psychologists to talk about emotion -- not simply to share feelings, but to advance science. According to the sociologists, intuition could be the catalyst that enables psychology to progress in areas in which it has stagnated.

Consciousness has less control than believed, according to new theory Posted: 23 Jun 2015 11:19 AM PDT Consciousness -- the internal dialogue that seems to govern one's thoughts and actions -- is far less powerful than people believe, serving as a passive conduit rather than an active force that exerts control, according to a new theory proposed by a researcher.

Robust new process forms 3-D shapes from flat sheets of graphene Posted: 23 Jun 2015 11:19 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new approach for forming 3-D shapes from flat, 2-D sheets of graphene, paving the way for future integrated systems of graphene-MEMS hybrid devices and flexible electronics.

The true cost of fuelling conflict Posted: 23 Jun 2015 11:19 AM PDT Between 2000 and 2011, the annual fuel expenditures of the Department of Defense (DOD) were between one and nine billion dollars higher than initially forecast, researchers report. while this perpetual overspending could have serious consequences for the DOD, improvements to planning, budgeting and financing practices could help lessen the risks. This is something both the U.S. and Canadian governments could do well to keep in mind, with federal elections fast approaching and strife in the Middle East showing few signs of abating anytime soon.

Generic heart disease medications offer promise for Ebola treatment Posted: 23 Jun 2015 11:19 AM PDT Generic medications used frequently in the management of heart disease patients also have the potential to bolster the immune systems of patients with Ebola virus and some other life-threatening illnesses, researchers report.

Commodity market volatility more perception than reality Posted: 23 Jun 2015 11:17 AM PDT When grain and other commodity prices experienced explosive episodes between 2004 and 2013, the finger pointed toward index traders as the cause. Researchers identified and date-stamped both upward and downward price bubbles for grain during that time period. They found that not only were index traders not to blame but that the bubbles didn't last nearly as long as many thought they did.

Pet ownership and its potential benefits for older adults Posted: 23 Jun 2015 11:17 AM PDT New research calls for increased understanding about older adults, the relationship between pet ownership and health, and the current barriers which limit older adults' chances to own a pet. The stud goes into detail about physical and financial risks for older adult pet ownership and how it can be diminished.

Promising new drug combo offers hope for people battling melanoma Posted: 23 Jun 2015 11:13 AM PDT Summer inspires many people to think about their vacation plans, however, it makes one medical oncologist think about melanoma. He hopes to be able to offer a new treatment for melanoma patients in the near future.

Potential treatment target identified for rare form of diabetes, other disorders Posted: 23 Jun 2015 11:13 AM PDT Scientists working to find treatments for a rare and severe form of diabetes known as Wolfram syndrome have identified a gatekeeper in cells that prevents harmful molecules from spilling and triggering cell death. The researchers also have found that the gatekeeper — an enzyme — may be a good treatment target not only for diabetes but for heart problems, Parkinson's disease and other disorders.

Reinforced cylinder leads to fewer repeat surgeries for children born with heart defect Posted: 23 Jun 2015 10:20 AM PDT Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a congenital defect in which the left side of the heart does not develop properly, impairing normal circulation. A series of surgeries can help restore heart function. A new study has found use of a ring-reinforced cylinder instead of the usual non-reinforced conduit improved survival, reduced need for re-interventions, and induced physiological changes that may make patients better candidates for recovery after future surgeries.

Researchers identify new class of antifungal agents Posted: 23 Jun 2015 10:19 AM PDT A new class of antifungals has been identified, potentially useful to treat the more than 300 million people worldwide who develop serious fungal infections. Fungal infections are most commonly found in individuals with medical conditions that compromise the immune system, such as AIDS, or individuals who are being treated with immunosuppressives, such as those battling cancer. The three classes of antifungal drugs currently available--azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins--are far from optimal.

X marks the spot: Novel method for controlling plasma rotation confirmed Posted: 23 Jun 2015 10:19 AM PDT Physicists have demonstrated a novel method that scientists can use to manipulate the intrinsic - or self-generated - rotation of hot, charged plasma gas within fusion facilities called tokamaks.

Toward tiny, solar-powered sensors Posted: 23 Jun 2015 10:19 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new power converter chip that can harvest more than 80 percent of the energy trickling into it, even at the extremely low power levels characteristic of tiny solar cells. Previous experimental ultralow-power converters had efficiencies of only 40 or 50 percent.

New light in terahertz window Posted: 23 Jun 2015 10:19 AM PDT The terahertz range is one of the last sections of the electromagnetic spectrum -- which extends from radio waves through optical applications right up to X-ray radiation -- that is still rarely used in everyday life. The radiation is difficult to generate and until now this was only possible to a limited extent.

Unauthorized immigrants prolong the life of Medicare Trust Fund, study suggests Posted: 23 Jun 2015 10:19 AM PDT Unauthorized immigrants pay billions more into Medicare's Hospital Insurance Trust Fund each year than they withdraw in health benefits. In 2011 alone, unauthorized immigrants paid in $3.5 billion more than they utilized in care. Unauthorized immigrants generated an average surplus of $316 per capita to the Trust Fund, while other Americans generated a deficit of $106 per capita. The authors conclude that reducing unauthorized immigration would worsen Medicare's financial health.

Men think they are maths experts, therefore they are Posted: 23 Jun 2015 10:17 AM PDT Just because more men pursue careers in science and engineering does not mean they are actually better at math than women are. The difference is that men think they are much better at math than they really are. Women, on the other hand, tend to accurately estimate their arithmetic prowess.

Survival of the gutless? Filter-feeders eject internal organs in response to stress Posted: 23 Jun 2015 10:17 AM PDT A recent study explores the ability of a common coral reef organism to eviscerate and regenerate its gut within 12 days and rebuild its filtration organ, the branchial sac, within 19 days. Understanding this process points to promising new directions in human soft tissue regeneration research, scientists say.

Color memory influenced by categories, according to new research Posted: 23 Jun 2015 10:17 AM PDT While color perception universally involves the practice of categorizing colors according to basic labels, concludes a new study that investigated the influence of categorization on color memory.

When inflammation occurs, kidneys work to protect themselves, researchers find Posted: 23 Jun 2015 10:17 AM PDT In an apparent effort to help themselves, inflamed kidney cells produce one of the same inflammation-suppressing enzymes fetuses use to survive, researchers report.

Uninterrupted vitamin K antagonists recommended during ablation, device implantation Posted: 23 Jun 2015 10:17 AM PDT Experts have recommended uninterrupted anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists during ablation and device implantation. Dramatic changes in the field during the last five years demanded a revision, they say.

How Huntington's disease proteins spread from cell to cell Posted: 23 Jun 2015 10:16 AM PDT By identifying in spinal fluid how the characteristic mutant proteins of Huntington's disease spread from cell to cell, scientists and colleagues have created a new method to quickly and accurately track the presence and proliferation of these neuron-damaging compounds -- a discovery that may accelerate the development of new drugs to treat this incurable disease.

Scientists persuade volcanoes to tell their stories Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:40 AM PDT Scientists have discovered how to prise volcanic secrets from magma crystals. These secrets include details of volcanic history, which explain global geography. Their discovery will help to better predict future eruptions of active volcanoes.

Old-school literature search helps ecologist identify puzzling parasite Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:40 AM PDT A months-long literature search that involved tracking down century-old scientific papers and translating others from Czech and French helped an ecologist answer a question she'd wondered about for years.

Diabetes medication reduces dementia risk Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:40 AM PDT Treating people with type 2 diabetes, also known as 'age-related diabetes' with antidiabetics reduces their risk for Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. The risk is most significantly reduced by the drug pioglitazone. Researchers draw this conclusion from an analysis of health insurance data.

Big data analysis platform to unveil gene interactions in cancer Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:40 AM PDT A breakthrough in cancer genomics has been achieved by developing a novel big data analysis platform for analyzing the interactions among genes. The analysis platform unveils the unregulated patterns of gene network in cancer and discovers potential diagnostic and therapeutic target genes, Nucleophosmin (NPM1) and its associated genes, in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML).

No need for sophisticated hunting techniques: Equatorial bats live the easy life Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:38 AM PDT Most of the world's bats use extremely sophisticated hunting techniques, but not bats around the equator. They use pretty much the same less sophisticated hunting techniques as their ancestors did millions of years ago. They probably do not need more than that, because life at the equator is easy, scientists say.

Single-catalyst water splitter produces clean-burning hydrogen 24/7 Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:38 AM PDT Scientists have invented a low-cost water splitter that uses a single catalyst to produce both hydrogen and oxygen gas 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The device could provide a renewable source of clean-burning hydrogen fuel for transportation and industry.

New high-strength steel could help automakers improve fuel efficiency Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:33 AM PDT A high-strength steel could help auto manufacturers in their quest to meet future fuel efficiency requirements.

Many doctors misunderstand key facets of opioid abuse, study shows Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:33 AM PDT Many primary care physicians -- the top prescribers of prescription pain pills in the United States -- don't understand basic facts about how people may abuse the drugs or how addictive different formulations of the medications can be, new research suggests.

Can heat be controlled as waves? Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:33 AM PDT A growing interest in thermoelectric materials -- which convert waste heat to electricity -- and pressure to improve heat transfer from increasingly powerful microelectronic devices have led to improved theoretical and experimental understanding of how heat is transported through nanometer-scale materials.

Trial could impact older myelodysplastic syndrome population's access to bone marrow transplants Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:33 AM PDT An America-wide clinical trial analyzes outcomes after two common treatments: bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy. The results could lead to wider access to transplants, researchers say.

Proximity to bike-sharing stations augments property values in city Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:33 AM PDT Studying house sales in central Montreal before and after the Bixi bike sharing system was launched in 2009, researchers found that a typical home in the central Montreal area they studied had about 12 stations nearby, which had increased its value by 2.7% on average. This benefits owners and municipalities through taxes. Cities considering the implementation or expansion of bicycle share systems should take this into account in addition to environmental and health benefits.

Below-average 'dead zone' predicted for Chesapeake Bay in 2015 Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:33 AM PDT Researchers are forecasting a slightly below-average but still significant "dead zone" this summer in the Chesapeake Bay, America's largest estuary.

Dietary guidelines for Americans shouldn't place limits on total fat intake Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:31 AM PDT Researchers call on the American federal government to drop restrictions on total fat consumption in the forthcoming 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Medical marijuana 'edibles' mostly mislabeled: Many too weak, some surprisingly strong Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:31 AM PDT The vast majority of edible cannabis products sold in a small sample of medical marijuana dispensaries carried labels that overstated or understated the amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a proof-of-concept study shows. Though the scope of the study was small, the researchers say, the results of the study suggest some medical cannabis patients could be unintentionally overdosing or are being cheated by mislabeled products.

Mixed findings regarding quality of evidence supporting benefit of medical marijuana Posted: 23 Jun 2015 08:31 AM PDT In an analysis of the findings of nearly 80 randomized trials that included about 6,500 participants, there was moderate-quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids (chemical compounds that are the active principles in cannabis or marijuana) for the treatment of chronic pain and lower-quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, sleep disorders, and Tourette syndrome.

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