ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Eating Disorders: Ovarian hormones play genes like a fiddle, research finds
• Age doesn't dull damselfly sex
• Human-wrought environmental changes impacting crops, pollinators could harm millions
• The icy mountains of Pluto
• Researchers stimulate human amygdala to gain key insight into sudden unexpected death in epilepsy
• Alzheimer's may affect the brain differently in African-Americans than European-Americans
• Compounds show potential in fighting brain, breast cancers
• A lion tale: Humans cause most mountain lion deaths in Southern California
• Clinical pathway uncovers obstructive sleep apnea in hospitalized patients
• Hydra emerges from the shadows
• Pluto: The ice plot thickens
• Charon’s Surprising, Youthful and Varied Terrain
• First-of-its-kind tornado panels installed in Montgomery home
• Drug shows promise as single-dose cure and as preventive treatment for malaria
• Astronomers bring a new hope to find 'Tatooine' planets
• From mountains to moons: Multiple discoveries from NASA’s New Horizons Pluto mission
• Evolutionary trees reveal patterns of microbial diversification
• Pre-college science programs lead to more science majors
• HIV uses immune system's own tools to suppress it
• Mechanism for altered pattern of brain growth in autism spectrum disorder discovered
• Outcomes comparable for in-person, in-home telerehabilitation following total knee replacement surgery
• Stem cells move one step closer to cure for genetic diseases
• 'Housing First' can reduce alcohol problems for homeless people with mental illness
• Brain network that controls, redirects attention identified
• Host genetics played a role in vaccine efficacy in the RV144 HIV vaccine trial
• Evolution of our mammalian ancestor's ear bone detailed
• Does heart disease begin in childhood?
• Hydraulic fracturing linked to increases in hospitalization rates in the Marcellus Shale
• Vision-restoring gene therapy also strengthens visual processing pathways in brain
• Breakthrough tools in fight against cryptosporidium
• Don't talk about golf: How caddies help elite golfers stay in the zone
• Mercury scrubbers at power plant lower other pollution too
• Review examines nutritional issues related to autism spectrum disorder
• Molecular fuel cell catalysts hold promise for efficient energy storage
• First step toward gene therapy treatment of mitochondrial disease unlocked by scientists
• Engineered hybrid crystal opens new frontiers for high-efficiency lighting
• New antibody treats traumatic brain injury and prevents long-term neurodegeneration
• Southeastern U.S. rural landscapes pose potential risk for salmonella infection
• Cancer Discovery: Protein modification determines enzyme's fate
• Lower-cost procedure for children with digestive tract problems
• Certain air filters using photocatalytic oxidation have dangerous by-product, study shows
• US media over-represent contributors to policy making, study finds
• Better chocolate with microbes: Same yeast used in beer, wine and bread
• Defective telomeres are now being linked to dozens of diseases, including many types of cancer
• Altruism is simpler than we thought
• New family of chemical structures can effectively remove CO2 from gas mixtures
• Old astronomic riddle on the way to be solved: Absorption of starlight in space
• Sunburn tattoos both trendy and dangerous
• Many opioid overdoses linked to lower prescribed doses, intermittent use
• Nanoparticles used to prevent inflammatory acne through slow-released nitric oxide
• A portable 'paper machine' can diagnose disease for less than $2
• Exercise can improve brain function in older adults
• Analysis reveals needs for improvement in youth fitness
• Oil spills affecting fish population
• Subset of plasma cells represent 'historical record' of childhood infections
• Attention beachgoers: Fecal contamination affects sand more than water
• The secret to the sea sapphire's colors -- and invisibility
• Uncovering a key relationship in ALS
• Plantations of nanorods on carpets of graphene capture the Sun's energy
• 'White graphene' structures can take the heat

Eating Disorders: Ovarian hormones play genes like a fiddle, research finds Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:22 PM PDT A complex relationship between genes, hormones and social factors can lead to eating disorders in women. An eating disorder expert has made monumental strides in deciphering how these factors interact. In her latest discovery, she has found that during the menstrual cycle, ovarian hormones act like a master conductor -- they turn genetic risk on and off in the body.

Age doesn't dull damselfly sex Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:22 PM PDT Aging damselflies never lose their libidos and are just as likely as younger competitors to mate, scientists report. Although the life of the azure damselfly is actually quite short--most insects in the study died within a week of arriving at the pond--the sex is constant, the authors explain.

Human-wrought environmental changes impacting crops, pollinators could harm millions Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:22 PM PDT Changing global environmental conditions caused by humans could negatively impact the health of millions by altering key crops, say two studies. One study found declining food pollinators such as bees could lead to decreased nutrient-rich crops linked with staving off disease. A second study found increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide could lead to lower zinc levels in food and expanded zinc deficiency.

The icy mountains of Pluto Posted: 15 Jul 2015 03:51 PM PDT New close-up images of a region near Pluto's equator reveal a giant surprise: a range of youthful mountains rising as high as 11,000 feet (3,500 meters) above the surface of the icy body.

Researchers stimulate human amygdala to gain key insight into sudden unexpected death in epilepsy Posted: 15 Jul 2015 03:33 PM PDT Researchers have identified areas of the human brain in which breathing is controlled and, in some cases, impaired. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy is becoming increasingly recognized as a very real and devastating problem in which impaired breathing is thought to play a critical role. Researchers believe breathing may be impaired during and after seizures, without the patient's knowledge.

Alzheimer's may affect the brain differently in African-Americans than European-Americans Posted: 15 Jul 2015 02:06 PM PDT Alzheimer's disease may cause different changes in the brain, or pathologies, in African-Americans than in white Americans of European descent, according to a new study.

Compounds show potential in fighting brain, breast cancers Posted: 15 Jul 2015 02:05 PM PDT A new discovery has potential to help brain and breast cancer patients, scientists suggest. The researchers examined compounds that inhibit Stat3, a protein implicated in a variety of cancers that include brain and breast cancers.

A lion tale: Humans cause most mountain lion deaths in Southern California Posted: 15 Jul 2015 02:05 PM PDT A 13-year study combined genetic and demographic data to determine that even though hunting mountain lions is prohibited in California, humans caused more than half the known deaths of mountain lions studied.

Clinical pathway uncovers obstructive sleep apnea in hospitalized patients Posted: 15 Jul 2015 02:05 PM PDT A multi-disciplinary group of researchers and physicians has created a clinical pathway to identify obstructive sleep apnea in higher-risk, hospitalized patients.

Hydra emerges from the shadows Posted: 15 Jul 2015 01:19 PM PDT Since its discovery in 2005, Pluto's moon Hydra has been known only as a fuzzy dot of uncertain shape, size, and reflectivity. Imaging obtained during New Horizons' historic transit of the Pluto-Charon system and transmitted to Earth early this morning has definitively resolved these fundamental properties of Pluto's outermost moon.

Pluto: The ice plot thickens Posted: 15 Jul 2015 01:14 PM PDT The latest spectra from New Horizons Ralph instrument reveal an abundance of methane ice, but with striking differences from place to place across the frozen surface of Pluto.

Charon’s Surprising, Youthful and Varied Terrain Posted: 15 Jul 2015 01:10 PM PDT Remarkable new details of Pluto's largest moon Charon are revealed in this image from New Horizons' Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI), taken late on July 13, 2015 from a distance of 289,000 miles (466,000 kilometers).

First-of-its-kind tornado panels installed in Montgomery home Posted: 15 Jul 2015 01:06 PM PDT A product designed by engineers to help save lives during natural disasters is approved for use.

Drug shows promise as single-dose cure and as preventive treatment for malaria Posted: 15 Jul 2015 01:06 PM PDT Researchers have shown that a drug currently in testing shows potential to cure malaria in a single dose and offers promise as a preventive treatment as well.

Astronomers bring a new hope to find 'Tatooine' planets Posted: 15 Jul 2015 01:06 PM PDT Sibling suns -- made famous in the "Star Wars" scene where Luke Skywalker gazes toward a double sunset -- and the planets around them may be more common than we've thought, and astronomers are presenting new ideas on how to find them.

From mountains to moons: Multiple discoveries from NASA’s New Horizons Pluto mission Posted: 15 Jul 2015 01:05 PM PDT Icy mountains on Pluto and a new, crisp view of its largest moon, Charon, are among the several discoveries announced Wednesday by the NASA's New Horizons team, just one day after the spacecraft's first ever Pluto flyby.

Evolutionary trees reveal patterns of microbial diversification Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:54 PM PDT Drawing inspiration from a class on coarse-graining methods in physics, researchers realized that the technique could be used to understand how microbes evolve over time. The results reveal microbial family trees with distinct evolutionary patterns that may one day help us understand how harmful microbes evolve.

Pre-college science programs lead to more science majors Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:54 PM PDT High school students who take part in pre-college programs that focus on science are much more likely to pursue higher education and, eventually, careers in science, technology, engineering and medicine -- the STEM disciplines -- a new study suggests.

HIV uses immune system's own tools to suppress it Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:54 PM PDT A research team has made a significant discovery on how HIV escapes the body's antiviral responses. The team uncovered how an HIV viral protein known as Vpu tricks the immune system by using its own regulatory process to evade the host's first line of defence. The findings pave the way for future HIV prevention or cure strategies.

Mechanism for altered pattern of brain growth in autism spectrum disorder discovered Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:54 PM PDT Scientists have uncovered how mutations in a specific autism risk gene alter the basic trajectory of early brain development in animal models.

Outcomes comparable for in-person, in-home telerehabilitation following total knee replacement surgery Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:54 PM PDT Patients who received rehabilitation instructions via video teleconference, or 'telerehabilitation,' following total knee replacement surgery had comparable outcomes to patients who received in-person physical therapy, according to a study.

Stem cells move one step closer to cure for genetic diseases Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:54 PM PDT Scientists have created mutation-free lines of stem cells from human patients with mitochondrial diseases.

'Housing First' can reduce alcohol problems for homeless people with mental illness Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:53 PM PDT A 'Housing First' approach can reduce alcohol-related problems among homeless people with mental illness, a study finds.

Brain network that controls, redirects attention identified Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:53 PM PDT Key parts of the human brain network that give us the power to control and redirect our attention -- a core cognitive ability -- may be unique to humans, researchers have discovered.

Host genetics played a role in vaccine efficacy in the RV144 HIV vaccine trial Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:53 PM PDT Host genetics played a role in protection against HIV infection in the landmark RV144 vaccine trial conducted in Thailand, research shows.

Evolution of our mammalian ancestor's ear bone detailed Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:53 PM PDT The first detailed and comprehensive analysis on the ear bone of Triassic cynodonts has completed, and researchers have found some noticeable variations in the morphology of this bone -- even among animals of the same species.

Does heart disease begin in childhood? Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:53 PM PDT A 'statistically significant association' between higher vitamin D levels and lower non-HDL cholesterol in kids has been found by researchers. There has been evidence that low vitamin D levels in adults are linked to cardiovascular disease, as well as other health issues such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes. But that link hadn't been studied in children.

Hydraulic fracturing linked to increases in hospitalization rates in the Marcellus Shale Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:53 PM PDT Hospitalizations for heart conditions, neurological illness, and other conditions were higher among people who live near unconventional gas and oil drilling (hydraulic fracturing), according to new research. Over the past ten years in the United States, hydraulic fracturing has experienced a meteoric increase. Due to substantial increases in well drilling, potential for air and water pollution posing a health threat has been a concern for nearby residents.

Vision-restoring gene therapy also strengthens visual processing pathways in brain Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:53 PM PDT Since 2007, clinical trials using gene therapy have resulted in often-dramatic sight restoration for dozens of children and adults who were otherwise doomed to blindness. Now, researchers have found evidence that this sight restoration leads to strengthening of visual pathways in the brain.

Breakthrough tools in fight against cryptosporidium Posted: 15 Jul 2015 11:11 AM PDT New tools have been developed to study and genetically manipulate cryptosporidium. The tools will ultimately help researchers find new treatments and vaccines for cryptosporidium, a major cause of disease and death in children under 2 years old.

Don't talk about golf: How caddies help elite golfers stay in the zone Posted: 15 Jul 2015 11:09 AM PDT The support offered by caddies can help elite golfers stay 'in the zone' even under the pressure of major championships, new research has revealed. The study was conducted with 10 European Tour golfers including The Open players, and European Tour, Challenge Tour and Senior Tour winners.

Mercury scrubbers at power plant lower other pollution too Posted: 15 Jul 2015 11:09 AM PDT Air pollution controls installed at a coal-fired power plant to curb mercury emissions are unexpectedly reducing another class of harmful emissions as well, scientists say in a new report.

Review examines nutritional issues related to autism spectrum disorder Posted: 15 Jul 2015 11:09 AM PDT There is consensus that children with autism have selective eating patterns, food neophobia, limited food repertoire, and sensory issues. Researchers now report that there are inconsistent results about the extent and type of nutrient deficiencies.

Molecular fuel cell catalysts hold promise for efficient energy storage Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:35 AM PDT In the quest for better, less expensive ways to store and use energy, platinum and other precious metals play an important role. They serve as catalysts to propel the most efficient fuel cells, but they are costly and rare. Now, a metal-free alternative catalyst for fuel cells may be at hand.

First step toward gene therapy treatment of mitochondrial disease unlocked by scientists Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:35 AM PDT The first critical step in developing novel gene and stem cell therapy treatments for patients with mitochondrial disease has been revealed by scientists. This breakthrough sets the stage for replacing diseased tissue in patients and opens the door to a world of regenerative medicine where doctors are able to treat human diseases that are currently incurable.

Engineered hybrid crystal opens new frontiers for high-efficiency lighting Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:35 AM PDT Engineers have combined two promising solar cell materials together for the first time, creating a new platform for LED technology. The team designed a way to embed strongly luminescent nanoparticles called colloidal quantum dots into perovskite.

New antibody treats traumatic brain injury and prevents long-term neurodegeneration Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:35 AM PDT New research provides the first direct evidence linking traumatic brain injury to Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) -- and offers the potential for early intervention to prevent the development of these debilitating neurodegenerative diseases. TBI can result from repetitive contact sport injuries or from exposure to military blasts, and is one of the most significant risk factors for both Alzheimer's disease and CTE.

Southeastern U.S. rural landscapes pose potential risk for salmonella infection Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT Researchers from the University of Georgia have determined that various freshwater sources in Georgia, such as rivers and lakes, could feature levels of salmonella that pose a risk to humans. Salmonella infections are one of the top causes of gastrointestinal disease in the US, and while regulatory agencies have made progress in reducing foodborne transmission of the pathogen, other infection sources, including exposure to water, have not been as thoroughly examined.

Cancer Discovery: Protein modification determines enzyme's fate Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT An amino acid tag has the power to greatly influence the function of an enzyme called PRPS2, which is required for human life and can become hyperactive in cancer, researchers have demonstrated.

Lower-cost procedure for children with digestive tract problems Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT Physicians have published research that suggests a safe and lower-cost way to diagnose and treat problems in the upper gastrointestinal tract of children. The researchers assessed the effectiveness of unsedated transnasal endoscopy (TNE) in evaluating pediatric patients with potentially chronic problems in their esophagus, which is the tube that connects the patient's mouth to the stomach.

Certain air filters using photocatalytic oxidation have dangerous by-product, study shows Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT Imagine if, in an effort to clean the air more efficiently, you were involuntarily introducing chemicals more dangerous than the ones you were trying to scrub. Researchers have found that this exact situation is happening with a type of air filter called photocatalytic oxidation, a product already on the market. The chemical by-product? Formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen.

US media over-represent contributors to policy making, study finds Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT American media in effort to highlight a diverse set of voices in covering politics generally over-represent the amount of people who contribute to policy making when compared with journalists in South Korea, a new study suggests.

Better chocolate with microbes: Same yeast used in beer, wine and bread Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT For decades, researchers have worked to improve cacao fermentation by controlling the microbes involved. Now, to their surprise, a team of Belgian researchers has discovered that the same species of yeast used in production of beer, bread, and wine works particularly well in chocolate fermentation.

Defective telomeres are now being linked to dozens of diseases, including many types of cancer Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT Studying telomeres, the structures that protect the ends of chromosomes, has become a key issue in biology. In recent years, not only has their relation to ageing been confirmed; defective telomeres seem to be linked to more and more illnesses, including many types of cancer.

Altruism is simpler than we thought Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT A new computational model of how the brain makes altruistic choices is able to predict when a person will act generously in a scenario involving the sacrifice of money. The work also helps explain why being generous sometimes feels so difficult.

New family of chemical structures can effectively remove CO2 from gas mixtures Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:07 AM PDT A newly discovered family of chemical structures could increase the value of biogas and natural gas that contains carbon dioxide.

Old astronomic riddle on the way to be solved: Absorption of starlight in space Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:07 AM PDT Scientists were able to identify for the first time a molecule responsible for the absorption of starlight in space: the positively charged Buckminsterfullerene, or so-called football molecule.

Sunburn tattoos both trendy and dangerous Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:28 AM PDT They may look neat, but the dangers of sunburn tattoos far outweigh the coolness factor.

Many opioid overdoses linked to lower prescribed doses, intermittent use Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:26 AM PDT Overdoses of opioid pain medications frequently occur in people who aren't chronic users with high prescribed opioid doses -- the groups targeted by current opioid prescribing guidelines, reports a new study.

Nanoparticles used to prevent inflammatory acne through slow-released nitric oxide Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:25 AM PDT Dermatologists have found that the release of nitric oxide over time may be a new way to treat and prevent acne through nanotechnology.

A portable 'paper machine' can diagnose disease for less than $2 Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:25 AM PDT In the US and other industrialized nations, testing for infectious diseases and cancer often requires expensive equipment and highly trained specialists. In countries where resources are limited, performing the same diagnostics is far more challenging. To address this disparity, scientists are developing a portable, low-cost 'paper machine' for point-of-care detection of infectious diseases, genetic conditions and cancer.

Exercise can improve brain function in older adults Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:25 AM PDT Older adults can improve brain function by raising their fitness level, new research suggests. The research indicated that the intensity of the exercise appeared to matter more than the duration.

Analysis reveals needs for improvement in youth fitness Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:25 AM PDT A new study provides a snapshot of health-related physical fitness levels for US schoolchildren in grades first through 12th. Researchers analyzing data collected nationally through the NFL PLAY 60 FITNESSGRAM Partnership Project found that fitness levels sharply declined as students got older.

Oil spills affecting fish population Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:25 AM PDT A mixture of bitumen and gasoline-like solvents known as dilbit that flows through Prairie pipelines can seriously harm fish populations, according to new research.

Subset of plasma cells represent 'historical record' of childhood infections Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:25 AM PDT Immunologists have identified a distinct set of long-lived antibody-producing cells in the human bone marrow that function as an immune archive.

Attention beachgoers: Fecal contamination affects sand more than water Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:25 AM PDT 'No swimming' signs have already popped up this summer along coastlines where fecal bacteria have invaded otherwise inviting waters. Some vacationers ignore the signs while others resign themselves to tanning and playing on the beach. But should those avoiding the water be wary of the sand, too? New research investigates reasons why the answer could be 'yes.'

The secret to the sea sapphire's colors -- and invisibility Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:24 AM PDT Sapphirina, or sea sapphire, has been called 'the most beautiful animal you've never seen,' and it could be one of the most magical. Some of the tiny, little-known copepods appear to flash in and out of brilliantly colored blue, violet or red existence. Now scientists are figuring out the trick to their hues and their invisibility. The findings could inspire the next generation of optical technologies.

Uncovering a key relationship in ALS Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:24 AM PDT Novel antibodies for tracking C9orf72 have been developed by researchers, uncovering a link between genetic cause of ALS and its pathology. ALS is arguable humanity's most puzzling, intractable disease.

Plantations of nanorods on carpets of graphene capture the Sun's energy Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:24 AM PDT The Sun can be a better chemist, thanks to zinc oxide nanorod arrays grown on a graphene substrate and 'decorated' with dots of cadmium sulphide. In the presence of solar radiation, this combination of zero and one-dimensional semiconductor structures with two-dimensional graphene is a great catalyst for many chemical reactions.

'White graphene' structures can take the heat Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:24 AM PDT Three-dimensional structures of boron nitride sheets and nanotubes may offer a way to keep small electronic devices cool, according to scientists.

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