ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Super elastic electroluminescent ‘skin’ will soon create mood robots
• There goes the neighborhood: Changes in chromosome structure activate cancer-causing genes
• (Rain)cloud computing: Researchers work to improve how we predict climate change
• The secret to 3-D graphene? Just freeze it
• Cancer expert says public health, prevention measures are key to defeating cancer
• Groundbreaking text mining project highlights 'gender gap' in scientific research
• Greenland's ice is getting darker, increasing risk of melting
• Selfish or altruistic? Brain connectivity reveals hidden motives
• Researchers overturn landmark study on the replicability of psychological science
• Parasites help brine shrimp cope with arsenic habitat contamination
• Fuel or food? Study sees increasing competition for land, water resources
• Mating without males decreases lifespan
• New maps reduce threats to whales, dolphins
• Efficacy of steroid use in late preterm delivery demonstrated
• New kind of stem cell discovered
• Hubble breaks cosmic distance record: Sees universe soon after Big Bang
• PGK1 protein promotes brain tumor formation, cancer metabolism
• Healthy cells 'collaborate' with tumors to help build new blood vessels
• Depicting as a method of communication
• New method for producing heart cells may hold the key to treating heart failure
• 'Broken' heart breakthrough: Researchers reprogram cells to better battle heart failure
• Blocking transfer of calcium to cell's powerhouse selectively kills cancer cells
• Common genetic variant in a tumor suppressor gene linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes
• How many types of neurons are there in the brain?
• People with anxiety show fundamental differences in perception
• Researchers unravel pathways of potent antibodies that fight HIV infection
• Mapping family history can lead more at-risk patients to timely screening
• Biologists identify six new unique species of Western Rattlesnake
• Corporate social responsibility: Good for the bottom line, but doesn't wash away a firm's sins
• Size not such a big thing for seed bugs
• Novel small-molecule antiviral compound protects monkeys from deadly Ebola virus
• Most teens who misuse prescription stimulants say they use other people's medication
• Neuronal calculations consider expectations
• New biomarker of brain inflammation in early-stage Alzheimer's disease
• New insight into enzyme evolution
• Why do chimpanzees throw stones at trees?
• Elders living alone with abuser more likely to endure severe mistreatment
• Scrutinizing the tip of molecular probes
• When liquids get up close and personal with powders
• Modified protein reverses cirrhosis in lab rats
• Using streaming online media to learn new surgical techniques
• Stop signals against protein clumps
• Monkeys drive wheelchairs using only their thoughts
• New brain stimulation target identified for Tourette's syndrome
• Researchers found shallow-water corals are not related to their deep-water counterparts
• Desalination plants 'hidden asset' for power, water
• Job market lures more physician assistants to specialties over primary care
• Testing the evolution of resistance by experiment
• Gender gap in medical journal first authorship, new research reveals
• Accepting a job below one's skill level can adversely affect future employment prospects
• Maximum earthquake magnitude for North Turkey
• Chemists devise new approach for rapidly identifying 'legal highs'
• Ultra-fast detection of breast density using MRT helps determine breast cancer risks
• Can some birds be just as smart as apes?
• When the stadium is DNA, swapping one spectator may affect the results
• Finnish electric buses serve as mobile testing platforms in the Helsinki region
• Model for likelihood to participate in conferences can be used to improve communities
• Scientists exploit nanotechnology approaches to speed up chemical reactions
• Re-thinking renewable energy predictions
• ALMA spots baby star’s growing blanket

Super elastic electroluminescent ‘skin’ will soon create mood robots Posted: 03 Mar 2016 12:02 PM PST Engineers have developed an electroluminescent "skin" that stretches to more than six times its original size while still emitting light. The discovery could lead to significant advances in health care, transportation, electronic communication and other areas.

There goes the neighborhood: Changes in chromosome structure activate cancer-causing genes Posted: 03 Mar 2016 12:02 PM PST In a finding with enormous implications for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, scientists have discovered that breaches in looping chromosomal structures known as "insulated neighborhoods" can activate oncogenes capable of fueling aggressive tumor growth.

(Rain)cloud computing: Researchers work to improve how we predict climate change Posted: 03 Mar 2016 11:59 AM PST Two scientists work on simulations that project what the climate will look like 100 years from now. Last year, they completed the highest-resolution climate forecast ever done for North America, dividing the continent into squares just over seven miles on a side -- far more detailed than the standard 30 to 60 miles.

The secret to 3-D graphene? Just freeze it Posted: 03 Mar 2016 11:59 AM PST Engineers have used a modified 3-D printer and frozen water to create three-dimensional objects made of graphene oxide. The structures could be an important step toward making graphene commercially viable in electronics, medical diagnostic devices and other industries.

Cancer expert says public health, prevention measures are key to defeating cancer Posted: 03 Mar 2016 11:59 AM PST Is investment in research to develop new treatments the best approach to controlling cancer? Many people believe that the time is right for another big push to defeat cancer, including President Obama, who called for a major cancer-fighting campaign in his final State of the Union address. But in a new paper, this kind of effort will never cure cancer without public health and prevention.

Groundbreaking text mining project highlights 'gender gap' in scientific research Posted: 03 Mar 2016 11:57 AM PST The sexes can have markedly different responses to the same investigations. Not reporting on the sex and age of animal models could significantly reduce the reliability and reproducibility of studies, and lead to drugs that won't work for half of the population.

Greenland's ice is getting darker, increasing risk of melting Posted: 03 Mar 2016 11:57 AM PST Greenland's snowy surface has been getting darker over the past two decades, absorbing more heat from the sun and increasing snow melt, a new study of satellite data shows. That trend is likely to continue, with the surface's reflectivity, or albedo, decreasing by as much as 10 percent by the end of the century, the study says.

Selfish or altruistic? Brain connectivity reveals hidden motives Posted: 03 Mar 2016 11:57 AM PST Often, it is hard to understand why people behave the way they do, because their true motives remain hidden. Researchers have now shown how peoples' motives can be identified as they are characterized by a specific interplay between different brain regions. They also show how empathy motives increase altruistic behavior in selfish people.

Researchers overturn landmark study on the replicability of psychological science Posted: 03 Mar 2016 11:57 AM PST An in-depth examination of a 2015 landmark study showing that more than half of all psychology studies cannot be replicated has revealed serious mistakes that make its pessimistic conclusion completely unwarranted.

Parasites help brine shrimp cope with arsenic habitat contamination Posted: 03 Mar 2016 11:55 AM PST Do parasites weaken their hosts' resilience to environmental stress? Not always, according to a study. Rather than weakening its brine shrimp intermediate host, tapeworm infection enhances the shrimps' ability to cope with arsenic contamination in the water -- and the same holds true in the warmer waters predicted by climate change models.

Fuel or food? Study sees increasing competition for land, water resources Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:36 AM PST About one-third of the world's malnourished population could be fed by using resources now used for biofuel production, new research indicates. As strategies for energy security, investment opportunities and energy policies prompt ever-growing production and consumption of biofuels like bioethanol and biodiesel, land and water that could otherwise be used for food production increasingly are used to produce crops for fuel.

Mating without males decreases lifespan Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:36 AM PST Roundworm species reproducing self-fertilization instead of mating with males have shorter lifespans.

New maps reduce threats to whales, dolphins Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PST Biologists have created highly detailed maps charting the seasonal movements and population densities of 35 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises -- many of them threatened or endangered -- in US Atlantic and Gulf waters. The maps give government agencies and marine managers better tools to protect these highly mobile animals and guide ocean planning, including decisions about the siting of wind energy and oil and gas exploration along US coasts.

Efficacy of steroid use in late preterm delivery demonstrated Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PST Babies born in the late preterm period -- between 34 and 36 weeks gestation -- benefit from the use of antenatal corticosteroids to help mature the baby's lungs, new research shows.

New kind of stem cell discovered Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PST A new kind of stem cell, one that could lead to advances in regenerative medicine as well as offer new ways to study birth defects and other reproductive problems, has been discovered by a team of researchers.

Hubble breaks cosmic distance record: Sees universe soon after Big Bang Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PST By pushing the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to its limits astronomers have shattered the cosmic distance record by measuring the distance to the most remote galaxy ever seen in the Universe. This galaxy existed just 400 million years after the Big Bang and provides new insights into the first generation of galaxies.

PGK1 protein promotes brain tumor formation, cancer metabolism Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PST PGK1, a glycolytic enzyme, has been found to play a role in coordinating cellular processes crucial to cancer metabolism and brain tumor formation, according to results of a new study.

Healthy cells 'collaborate' with tumors to help build new blood vessels Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PST Healthy cells actively collaborate with tumors by creating a mesh of collagen that encourages cancer cells to build new blood vessels, a new study shows. Researchers found that 'collaborator' cells build a beneficial environment around the tumor which helps it to build the new blood vessels it needs to grow.

Depicting as a method of communication Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PST When we think of language, we usually think of words, phrases, and sentences -- strings of abstract symbols. In research over the past 50 years, cognitive and social scientists have developed extensive accounts of how people communicate with these symbols. But when people are face to face, they also communicate with actions that depict people, objects, and events. They create these depictions with their hands, arms, head, face, voice, and entire body, sometimes with other props but often without.

New method for producing heart cells may hold the key to treating heart failure Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PST Scientists have discovered how to make a new type of cell that is in between embryonic stem cells and adult heart cells, and that may hold the key to treating heart disease. These induced expandable cardiovascular progenitor cells (ieCPCs) can organically develop into heart cells, while still being able to replicate. When injected into a mouse after a heart attack, the cells improved heart function dramatically.

'Broken' heart breakthrough: Researchers reprogram cells to better battle heart failure Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:30 AM PST Patients with heart failure often have a buildup of scar tissue that leads to a gradual loss of heart function. In a new study, researchers report significant progress toward a novel approach that could shrink the amount of heart scar tissue while replenishing the supply of healthy heart muscle.

Blocking transfer of calcium to cell's powerhouse selectively kills cancer cells Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:30 AM PST Inhibiting the transfer of calcium ions into the cell's powerhouse is specifically toxic to cancer cells, suggesting new ways to fight the disease. Calcium addiction by mitochondria is a novel feature of cancer cells. This unexpected dependency on calcium transfer to the mitochondria for the survival of cancer cells surprised the researchers.

Common genetic variant in a tumor suppressor gene linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:30 AM PST P53, a tumor suppressor referred to as has often been described as the 'guardian of the genome,' may also be the 'guardian of obesity.' New research found that a variant of the gene is heavily implicated in metabolism, which may lead to obesity and the development of type 2 diabetes.

How many types of neurons are there in the brain? Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:29 AM PST For decades, scientists have struggled to develop a comprehensive census of cell types in the brain. Now, researchers describe powerful new approaches to systematically identify individual classes of neurons in the spinal cord. In doing so, they reveal elements of the underlying circuit architecture through which these neurons shape movement -- and highlight how statistical approaches could provide neuroscientists with a critical tool to quantify the cellular diversity of any region of the brain.

People with anxiety show fundamental differences in perception Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:29 AM PST People with anxiety fundamentally perceive the world differently, according to a new study. They aren't simply making the choice to 'play it safe.'

Researchers unravel pathways of potent antibodies that fight HIV infection Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:29 AM PST One of the most crucial and elusive goals of an effective HIV vaccine is to stimulate antibodies that can attack the virus even as it relentlessly mutates. Now a research team has tracked rare potent antibodies in an HIV-infected individual and determined sequential structures that point to how they developed.

Mapping family history can lead more at-risk patients to timely screening Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:09 AM PST Most doctors and nurses review a patient's family history to identify risk factors for heart disease and cancer, often through a paper checklist or brief interview. But more deliberate efforts to map a patient's family tree could identify additional risks and drive patients to timely screenings for illnesses that may unknowingly affect them, according to a new study.

Biologists identify six new unique species of Western Rattlesnake Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:09 AM PST Using head shapes and genetic analyses, researchers have recommend that six groups of subspecies of the western rattlesnake be elevated to full species status.

Corporate social responsibility: Good for the bottom line, but doesn't wash away a firm's sins Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:08 AM PST All else equal, corporate social responsibility does in fact benefit firms financially, research shows. But it's also increasingly being practiced by companies to offset "bad" behaviors.

Size not such a big thing for seed bugs Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:07 AM PST Size should be a big thing when it comes to seed bugs mating, but it only matters when more than one mating partner is around to choose from. That is what researchers found when investigating the mating strategies of two closely related black and red colored seed bugs.

Novel small-molecule antiviral compound protects monkeys from deadly Ebola virus Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:06 AM PST Rhesus monkeys were completely protected from Ebola virus when treated three days after infection with a compound that blocks the virus's ability to replicate. These encouraging preclinical results suggest the compound, known as GS-5734, should be further developed as a potential treatment, according to research findings.

Most teens who misuse prescription stimulants say they use other people's medication Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:06 AM PST Using someone else's medication is the most common form of prescription stimulant misuse among adolescents, according to a study, which found that 88 percent of teens who used the drugs non-medically in the past 30 days said they had obtained the medications from someone else.

Neuronal calculations consider expectations Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:06 AM PST Our visual environment is incredibly complex. The smallest of spaces contain innumerable colors, structures and contrasts. Despite this we are able to identify objects and movements with high accuracy. The fly brain, researchers have now discovered, takes typical features of the environment into account when calculating motion.

New biomarker of brain inflammation in early-stage Alzheimer's disease Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:06 AM PST A brain inflammation marker has been identified in patients at early asymptomatic stages of Alzheimer's disease. This secreted marker molecule, which can be measured from cerebrospinal fluid taps, may provide clinicians with a rapidly detectable biomarker for the transition from preclinical Alzheimer's disease to cognitive impairment and progression to full dementia. Such is the conclusion of a multi-center study on a large group of human patients.

New insight into enzyme evolution Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:06 AM PST How enzymes -- the biological proteins that act as catalysts and help complex reactions occur -- are 'tuned' to work at a particular temperature is described in new research.

Why do chimpanzees throw stones at trees? Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:06 AM PST Newly discovered stone tool-use behavior and accumulation sites in wild chimpanzees are reminiscent to human cairns, report researchers. Chimpanzees are proficient tool-users, using sticks to fish for termites, to dip for ants, to extract honey, and even using stone or wooden hammers to crack open nuts. Outside the foraging context male chimpanzees sometimes throw branches and stones during displays, or leaf-clip to solicit sex from females. This research has therefore been fundamental for providing insights into natural chimpanzee behavior and most importantly into the differences between populations.

Elders living alone with abuser more likely to endure severe mistreatment Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:06 AM PST A new study examining elder abuse-released has found that older adult victims living alone with their abuser were up to four times more likely to endure more severe levels of mistreatment. The study suggests that the addition of non-perpetrators also living in the home played a protective function to buffer severity.

Scrutinizing the tip of molecular probes Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:06 AM PST Studies of molecules confined to nano- or micropores are of considerable interest to physicists. That's because they can manipulate or stabilize molecules in unstable states or obtain new materials with special properties. In a new study, scientists have discovered the properties of the surface layer in probe molecules on the surface of oxide particles.

When liquids get up close and personal with powders Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:04 AM PST Every cook knows that dissolving powder into a liquid, such as semolina in milk or polenta in water, often creates lumps. What they most likely don't know is that physicists spend a lot of time attempting to understand what happens in those lumps. In a review paper, scientists share their insights following ten years of research into the wetting of soluble polymer substrates by droplets of solvents like water.

Modified protein reverses cirrhosis in lab rats Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:04 AM PST A protein modified to increase the amount of time it circulates in the bloodstream appears to reverse liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in rats, according to results of a study.

Using streaming online media to learn new surgical techniques Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:04 AM PST A small survey American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery members found that most of them had used online streaming media (i.e., YouTube) at least once to learn a new technique and most had used those techniques in practice, according to an article.

Stop signals against protein clumps Posted: 03 Mar 2016 08:29 AM PST Protein aggregates are deemed to be one reason for the death of nerve cells in disorders such as Alzheimer's or Huntington's disease. Synthesis of faulty protein chains leads to the formation of toxic aggregates, shows new research.

Monkeys drive wheelchairs using only their thoughts Posted: 03 Mar 2016 06:43 AM PST Neuroscientists have developed a brain-machine interface (BMI) that allows primates to use only their thoughts to navigate a robotic wheelchair.

New brain stimulation target identified for Tourette's syndrome Posted: 03 Mar 2016 06:41 AM PST Specifically-targeted deep brain stimulation improves symptoms in patients with severe Tourette's, according to new research. Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, often just called Tourette's, is best known for the vocal and motor tics that are the most common symptoms of the disorder. Usually, these symptoms respond to a growing array of medications. However, some patients experience severe tics that do not respond to medications and may be disabling or even life-threatening. In these rare cases, deep brain stimulation may provide relief.

Researchers found shallow-water corals are not related to their deep-water counterparts Posted: 03 Mar 2016 06:40 AM PST Shallow-reef corals are more closely related to their shallow-water counterparts over a thousand miles away than they are to deep-water corals on the same reef, new research indicates.

Desalination plants 'hidden asset' for power, water Posted: 03 Mar 2016 06:40 AM PST Generating hydropower from infrequently used desalination plants would create economic and environmental benefits for our biggest cities, according to new research.

Job market lures more physician assistants to specialties over primary care Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:48 AM PST The job market is luring more physician assistants, or PAs, to jobs in specialty care rather than primary care practices such as family medicine and general pediatrics, according to new research from Duke Health.

Testing the evolution of resistance by experiment Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:48 AM PST As scientists look for replacements for our dwindling stock of antibiotics, the evolution of resistance is never far from their minds. A biologist has explored the ability of bacteria to become resistant to a toxin called a bacteriocin by growing them for many generations in the presence of the toxin.

Gender gap in medical journal first authorship, new research reveals Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:48 AM PST Women are under-represented among first authors of original research in high impact general medical journals, new research shows. The study investigated the representation of women among the first authors of original research articles published in the highest-ranked general medical journals over a period of 20 years.

Accepting a job below one's skill level can adversely affect future employment prospects Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:48 AM PST Accepting a job below one's skill level can be severely penalizing when applying for future employment because of the perception that someone who does this is less committed or less competent, according to new research from a sociologist.

Maximum earthquake magnitude for North Turkey Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:46 AM PST Geoscientists and natural disaster management experts are well aware of the risk prevailing in the megacity of Istanbul: The Istanbul metropolitan region faces a high probability for a large earthquake in the near future. The question is: how large can such an earthquake be?

Chemists devise new approach for rapidly identifying 'legal highs' Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:46 AM PST Chemists have developed a new approach which now allows for rapid screening and identification of 'legal highs' or novel psychoactive substances (NPS).

Ultra-fast detection of breast density using MRT helps determine breast cancer risks Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:46 AM PST A high breast density is an independent risk factor for breast cancer. MRT is the safest method for breast cancer diagnosis and is now used for early diagnosis. Researchers have now successfully developed a method for the exact measurement of breast density using magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) examinations with the Dixon sequence. With this, in addition to a better breast cancer diagnosis, a better assessment of the risk is also possible.

Can some birds be just as smart as apes? Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:46 AM PST At first glance, the brains of birds and mammals show many significant differences. In spite of that, the cognitive skills of some groups of birds match those of apes, according to a new article.

When the stadium is DNA, swapping one spectator may affect the results Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:43 AM PST Does the fate of the team played with the game of life depend on the fan, who left the stands giving up his seat to someone else? On the sports stadium it would be an event without precedent. Meanwhile, inside the cells of our body it is not uncommon: only a single nucleotide substitution in the inactive DNA fragment may eventually lead to the development of the disease. Finally we know why this is happening.

Finnish electric buses serve as mobile testing platforms in the Helsinki region Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:43 AM PST Finnish electric buses will soon be acting as development platforms for smart mobility services in the Helsinki region, used for boosting the creation of new user-centric solutions and product development of businesses. The Living Lab Bus joint project uses the Finnish electric buses acquired by Helsinki Region Transport as concrete development and testing platforms for businesses to validate their solutions in a real use environment. The buses can be used for testing user-oriented smart services and technologies, ranging from user interfaces and passenger services to sensors and transport operators' solutions.

Model for likelihood to participate in conferences can be used to improve communities Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:43 AM PST The model for likelihood to participate in conferences can be used to improve communities, report investigators. The result is in line with the so-called power law, which is a common physical law that is realized in many natural phenomena like the sizes of earthquakes or moon craters. Further on, also human-made phenomena like word frequencies in most languages follow the power law.

Scientists exploit nanotechnology approaches to speed up chemical reactions Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:43 AM PST A new way of catalysing-speeding up- chemical reactions has been developed by applying an electric field between the reacting molecules. This opens the door for the fabrication of chemical compounds, used in pharmaceutical products and materials, in a fast and cheaper way. The reaction studied was a classical Diels-Alder reaction that was promoted by applying an oriented electric field between two nano-electrodes containing the reacting molecules. This novel nano-chemical synthesis approach involves joining individual molecules to create new molecular backbones just like snapping "Legos" together, and might lead us to more efficient methods for the synthesis of challenging chemical compounds.

Re-thinking renewable energy predictions Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:43 AM PST A new study on fluctuations in wind power describes how to find errors in forecasting renewable energy needs.

ALMA spots baby star’s growing blanket Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:43 AM PST Researchers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have made the first direct observations delineating the gas disk around a baby star from the infalling gas envelope. This finding fills an important missing piece in our understanding of the early phases of stellar evolution. A research team observed the baby star named TMC-1A located 450 light years away from us, in the constellation Taurus (the Bull). TMC-1A is a protostar, a star still in the process of forming. Large amounts of gas still surround TMC-1A.

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