| Could we one day control the path of lightning? Posted: 19 Jun 2015 12:21 PM PDT Lightning path remains unpredictable, but at a smaller scale, discharges between two electrodes can be guided by laser beams. Scientists have discovered a way to guide electric discharges -- and even steer them around obstacles -- through the clever use of lasers.  |
| Ultrafast chemistry in motion Posted: 19 Jun 2015 12:21 PM PDT Scientists for the first time tracked ultrafast structural changes, captured in quadrillionths-of-a-second steps, as ring-shaped gas molecules burst open and unraveled. Ring-shaped molecules are abundant in biochemistry and also form the basis for many drug compounds. The study points the way to a wide range of real-time X-ray studies of gas-based chemical reactions that are vital to biological processes.  |
| Sixth mass extinction is here: Humanity's existence threatened Posted: 19 Jun 2015 12:21 PM PDT Biologists have use highly conservative estimates to prove that species are disappearing faster than at any time since the dinosaurs' demise.  |
| Jetting into the moments after the Big Bang Posted: 19 Jun 2015 11:17 AM PDT Colliding lead ions at the Large Hadron Collider creates tiny samples of matter at energy densities that have not occurred since microseconds after the Big Bang. At these densities, ordinary matter melts into its primordial constituents of quarks and gluons. To explore the properties of this plasma of quarks and gluons as it expands and cools, a new Di-Jet Calorimeter was installed at the collider.  |
| Tuberculosis bacteria hide in low oxygen niches of bone marrow stem cells Posted: 19 Jun 2015 11:16 AM PDT A new study is helping to shed light on latent tuberculosis and the bacteria's ability to hide in stem cells. Some bone marrow stem cells reside in low oxygen (hypoxia) zones.  |
| Lake Fire in California burns over 11,000 acres Posted: 19 Jun 2015 11:16 AM PDT The Lake Fire located in San Bernardino National Forest was reported just before 4:00 p.m. on June 17. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.  |
| Brands, patents can protect firms from bankruptcy Posted: 19 Jun 2015 11:16 AM PDT If a firm faces troubled times during a stable market, strong advertising can carry it through. But when the market is turbulent, a firm's R&D is more likely to help save it from bankruptcy. A new study shows that 'intangible assets' built with branding and patents helps protect firms from bankruptcy but their effectiveness depends on the market climate.  |
| Discovery promises new treatments to thwart colon cancer Posted: 19 Jun 2015 11:16 AM PDT Scientists have discovered how an immune system protein, called AIM2 (Absent in Melanoma 2), plays a role in determining the aggressiveness of colon cancer. They found that AIM2 deficiency causes uncontrolled proliferation of intestinal cells. Surprisingly, they also discovered that AIM2 influences the microbiota -- the population of gut bacteria -- apparently fostering the proliferation of 'good' bacteria that can protect against colon cancer.  |
| Sleep disturbances are common, influenced by race and ethnicity Posted: 19 Jun 2015 11:16 AM PDT Sleep disturbances and undiagnosed sleep apnea are common among middle-aged and older adults in the US, and these sleep problems occur more frequently among racial/ethnic minorities, a new study shows.  |
| Study identifies first genetic mutation associated with Aicardi syndrome Posted: 19 Jun 2015 11:16 AM PDT A genetic mutation responsible for a debilitating childhood neurological condition known as Aicardi syndrome has been identified by researchers. They identified mutations to a gene known as TEAD1, which not only affects formation of the brain but also the retina, the part of the eye responsible for helping turn light into nerve impulses.  |
| Barn owls threatened by Africanized bees in South Florida Posted: 19 Jun 2015 09:19 AM PDT Throughout the past two decades, researchers have seen barn owl populations in the Everglades Agricultural Area, centered around Belle Glade, expand from mere dozens to more than 400 nesting pairs. But these beneficial raptors, currently listed as a threatened species, are now being threatened by Africanized honey bees.  |
| Thick cortex could be key in Down syndrome Posted: 19 Jun 2015 09:18 AM PDT The thickness of the brain's cerebral cortex could be a key to unlocking answers about intellectual development in youth with Down syndrome. It could also provide new insights to why individuals with this genetic neurodevelopmental disorder are highly susceptible to early onset Alzheimer's disease later in life.  |
| Child fitness falls further than feared: Not obesity-related Posted: 19 Jun 2015 08:47 AM PDT Child fitness levels are falling at an even faster rate than first feared - and this time there is evidence it has nothing to do with obesity.  |
| Laws needed against intrusive face recognition tech applied to online images, experts say Posted: 19 Jun 2015 08:47 AM PDT A telecommunications law academic in Australia has recommended for laws to be enacted criminalizing the application of face recognition technology to visual images online that enable the identity of a person or people to be ascertained without their consent.  |
| Chemists devise technology that could transform solar energy storage Posted: 19 Jun 2015 07:36 AM PDT Chemists have developed a major improvement to capture and retain energy from sunlight, where the stored energy can last dramatically longer than current solar technology allows -- up to several weeks, instead of the microseconds found in today's rooftop solar panels.  |
| More evidence for possible link between cocaine use and HIV infection Posted: 19 Jun 2015 07:35 AM PDT New research offers further evidence that cocaine use disrupts the immune system, making people who use it more likely to become infected with HIV.  |
| Proposed floodplain restoration reduces flood risk and restores salmon habitat Posted: 19 Jun 2015 07:35 AM PDT Salmon are severely impacted by the loss of floodplain habitats. In few places is this more pronounced than in Oregon's Tillamook Bay, where nearly 90 percent of estuaries' tidal wetlands have been lost to development -- threatening the survival of federally-protected coho salmon and the safety of the local community. Now, biologists have come together to reduce flood risk, increase resiliency of the ecosystem, and restore salmon habitat in Tillamook Bay.  |
| Alaska researcher investigates multiple endangered fin whale deaths Posted: 19 Jun 2015 07:35 AM PDT At least nine fin whales have been discovered floating dead in waters from Kodiak to Unimak Pass since late May. 'It is an unusual and mysterious event that appears to have happened around Memorial Day weekend,' said a marine mammal specialist. 'We rarely see more than one fin whale carcass every couple of years.'  |
| Zebrafish provide a novel model to study short bowel syndrome Posted: 19 Jun 2015 07:35 AM PDT Investigators are providing new hope for babies with short bowel syndrome (SBS) by developing a novel model of SBS in zebrafish,.  |
| Deep sea sharks are buoyant Posted: 19 Jun 2015 07:35 AM PDT Scientists have revealed that two species of deep-sea sharks, six-gill and prickly sharks, are positively buoyant -- they have to work harder to swim downward than up, and they can glide uphill for minutes at a time without using their tails.  |
| Chemistry: Simplistic beauty of a free radical Posted: 19 Jun 2015 07:35 AM PDT Scientists experimented with nitric oxide, a highly stable molecule of supreme importance in science. NO is highly reactive and a free radical, meaning a single, unpaired electron is present in its molecule.  |
| Patients give high marks to prepping for surgery online Posted: 19 Jun 2015 07:33 AM PDT First-time surgery can be concerning to any patient. Knee surgery -- even arthroscopic surgery to treat a torn meniscus -- can require significant preparation and rehabilitation. According to a new study, a web-based tutorial can not only increase a patient's understanding of the surgery but also provide a better experience.  |
| Autism: Value of an integrated approach to diagnosis Posted: 19 Jun 2015 07:33 AM PDT Researchers have combined three clinical, neurophysiological and genetic approaches in order to better understand the brain mechanisms that cause autism. When tested on two families, this strategy enabled the researchers to identify specific gene combinations in autistic patients that distinguished them from patients with intellectual disabilities.  |
| Health records and genetic data from more than 100,000 Californians power medical research Posted: 19 Jun 2015 07:33 AM PDT By volunteering to mail saliva to researchers working with their health care provider, thousands of people in California have helped build one of the nation's most powerful medical research tools. The researchers have now published the first reports describing these volunteers' genetic characteristics, how their self-reported ethnicity relates to genetic ancestry, and details of the innovative methods that allowed them to complete DNA analysis within 14 months.  |
| Increased anxiety associated with sitting down Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:55 AM PDT Low-energy activities that involve sitting down are associated with an increased risk of anxiety, according to new research. These activities, which include watching TV, working at a computer or playing electronic games, are called sedentary behavior.  |
| Racehorses at risk from misuse of cobalt, new study finds Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:55 AM PDT Scientists warn about the numerous risks posed to racehorses from the misuse of cobalt chloride, a banned performance-enhancing agent that has been used illegally by trainers in Australia and USA.  |
| 'Real world' link between type 2 diabetes, low blood sugar risk Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:52 AM PDT Hypoglycaemia is an issue amongst people with type 2 diabetes, particularly for those on insulin, yet is still fairly common for other treatment regimens. Now the hypoglycaemic events in the 'real world' type 2 diabetes population have been examined in a first-of-its-kind review. The study highlights the need for patient education to raise awareness of hypoglycaemia and for healthcare professionals to consider a patient's hypoglycaemia risk when prescribing diabetes treatments.  |
| Straw-insulated houses beat petroleum-based alternatives Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:49 AM PDT Scientists are planting the seeds of bio-insulated buildings by developing innovative insulation using sustainable materials.  |
| Microalgae, produced on a commercial scale Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:49 AM PDT Many products, including food supplements, cosmetics and biodiesel, are made from substances derived from microalgae. A fully automated pilot plant is capable of producing microalgae on pilot scale. The concentration of algae in its reactors is five times higher than in conventional closed reactors.  |
| Automated ion analyzer for space missions Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:46 AM PDT The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is scheduled to launch its Eu:CROPIS research satellite into orbit in early 2017. Its purpose is to test a biological life-support system for future human space missions. The satellite's payload includes an ion analyzer. This compact device will automatically monitor all of the system's internal processes.  |
| How bats actually fly to find their prey Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:46 AM PDT New research helps elucidate how bats actually fly to find their prey. Every night a bat puts in 600-700 kilometres of airtime. Flying low, the animals catch insects at speeds of around 40 metres per second. At night the bat uses its hearing to navigate its way to prey. Bats catch insects continuously using echolocation, an advanced navigation system.  |
| Climate change won’t reduce winter deaths Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:46 AM PDT In a study that contradicts the received wisdom on health impacts of climate change, scientists say that we shouldn't expect substantial reduction in winter deaths as a result of global warming.  |
| 'Crumpled' filter has potential to slash energy consumption in industry Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:46 AM PDT Scientists have developed an ultra-thin, super-strong membrane to filter liquids and gases, with the potential to cut energy consumption in industry.  |
| First solar cell made of highly ordered molecular frameworks Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:44 AM PDT Researchers have developed a material suited for photovoltaics. For the first time, a functioning organic solar cell consisting of a single component has been produced on the basis of metal-organic framework compounds (MOFs). The material is highly elastic and might also be used for the flexible coating of clothes and deformable components.  |
| Highly educated women stop smoking if the cost goes up, reports Spanish study Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:44 AM PDT Cigarette prices and images on cigarette packets have an impact on women in terms of continuing to smoke or quitting. In fact, less educated women are more responsive to pictorial labels on cigarette packets, as revealed by a Spanish study that has analyzed, for the first time, the generation differences among female smokers, a group which, despite policy measures, has not stopped growing.  |
| Carrying a table together with a co-operative robot Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:44 AM PDT From a robot's perspective, humans are normally a nuisance: when robots and humans have to work together, it often leads to problems. Researchers want to teach robots how to interact with humans and work together to accomplish tasks. CogIMon stands for "cognitive compliant interaction in motion." This research group is working on humanoid as well as industrial robots.  |
| Scientists solve decades-old cell biology puzzle: How protein machine allows cells to swallow up molecules Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:44 AM PDT Researchers have solved a question that has puzzled cell biologists for decades – how does the protein machine that allows cells to swallow up molecules during endocytosis function?  |
| A diode a few atoms thick shows surprising quantum effect Posted: 19 Jun 2015 05:30 AM PDT A quantum mechanical transport phenomenon demonstrated for the first time in synthetic, atomically-thin layered material at room temperature could lead to novel nanoelectronic circuits and devices.  |
| Bee health complexity requires scientific solutions Posted: 18 Jun 2015 02:44 PM PDT This article is on the relationships between pesticides and row crops, farmers and beekeepers, and factors influencing honeybee health.  |
| Scientists turn white fat into obesity-fighting beige fat Posted: 18 Jun 2015 02:42 PM PDT Scientists have shown that berries, grapes and other fruits convert excess white fat into calorie-burning 'beige' fat, providing new strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity. In the study, mice were fed a high fat diet. Those receiving resveratrol in amounts equivalent to 12 ounces of fruit per day for humans gained about 40 percent less weight than control mice.  |
| Stress in low-income families can affect children's learning Posted: 18 Jun 2015 02:42 PM PDT Children living in low-income households who endure family instability and emotionally distant caregivers are at risk of having impaired cognitive abilities, according to new research.  |
| How do toddlers use tablets? Posted: 18 Jun 2015 02:41 PM PDT Researchers studied more than 200 YouTube videos in an effort to understand how toddlers use tablets.  |
| State stroke legislation increases U.S. primary stroke centers Posted: 18 Jun 2015 02:41 PM PDT Primary stroke centers have increased dramatically in the last decade and state legislation to enable them is a major factor in potentially improving access to standard stroke care in the United States. State stroke legislation, urbanization, state economic output, and larger hospital size are four factors that increase the likelihood of a hospital becoming a certified primary stroke center.  |
| Using sago palm waste to absorb oil from spills Posted: 18 Jun 2015 12:05 PM PDT Waste material generated by Malaysia's sago palm industry has potential for use as an adsorbent for cleaning up oil spills, according to a new study.  |
