ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Zika causes microcephaly and other birth defects, CDC concludes
• Ultrasound headset may be new way to recognize concussion on the sidelines
• Probing the transforming world of neutrinos
• Immunosuppressive medication effectively treats ocular graft-versus-host-disease
• Spreading seeds by human migration
• Testosterone therapy decreases hospital readmissions in older men with low testosterone
• Fresh look at trope about Eskimo words for snow
• Only half of advanced rectal cancer patients receiving standard therapy
• On-the-go diagnosis of HIV and HCV co-infections
• New imaging technique reveals vulnerability of coral reefs
• Gut bacteria could help prevent cancer
• Twentieth century warming allowed moose to colonize the Alaskan tundra
• Reflective Saharan silver ant hairs thermoregulate, create bright color
• Current hepatitis C virus testing guidelines miss too many cases, study suggest
• Researchers uncover earliest events following HIV infection, before virus is detectable
• Trap and neutralize: A new way to clean contaminated groundwater
• Downwind safety on the farm
• Anti-fibrotic peptide shows early promise against interstitial lung disease
• Electrons slide through the hourglass on surface of bizarre material
• Device allows paralyzed man to swipe credit card, perform other movements
• Using data to protect coral reefs from climate change
• Location data on two apps enough to identify someone, says study
• Most online liquid nicotine vendors fail to prevent sales to minors
• Computers in your clothes? A milestone for wearable electronics
• Gang membership linked to depression
• Expanding insurance for single-embryo IVF could improve pregnancy outcomes
• Why bearcats smell like buttered popcorn
• Are humans the new supercomputer?
• Volcanic eruptions: How bubbles lead to disaster
• Elusive state of superconducting matter discovered after 50 years
• Genetic diversity helps to limit infectious disease
• Vital nutrient has key role in keeping body clocks running on time
• Repairing DNA damage in the human body
• Prehistoric peepers give vital clue in solving 300 million year old 'Tully Monster'
• How LSD can make us lose our sense of self
• Global studies reveal health financing crisis facing developing countries
• Study discovers link between cancer and autism
• In wide range of species, longevity proteins affect dozens of the same genes
• Gene variant explains racial disparities in adverse reactions to urate-lowering drug
• Changes in state policies impact fatal, non-fatal assaults of law enforcement officers
• Drug candidate stops extra bone growth in animal model of rare, genetic disease
• What causes déjà vu?
• Origin of life: Temperature gradients within pores in rock could have separated primitive biopolymers
• Rising carbon dioxide levels reduce protein in crucial pollen source for bees
• Could a brain 'growth chart' spot attention problems early? New study suggests so
• New asthma biomarkers could ease detection
• Experts respond to new wildlife health concern
• Can training help make employees more resilient?
• Link between obesity, kidney cancer identified
• Some drug addicts more likely to relapse than others: Study
• 'Proliposomal' local anesthetic shows promise for longer-lasting pain relief
• Microplastics harm freshwater fauna
• City moths avoid the light
• Gene defect may point to solution for Alzheimer's
• Simulating carbon dioxide saturation in rocks gives potential breakthrough in carbon capture, storage
• Pain drug in pipeline as researchers unwind marine snail puzzle
• Riddle of missing efficiency in zinc oxide-based dye-sensitised solar cells solved
• After 18 million years, a new species of extinct rodent discovered in Israel
• Asiagomphus reinhardti: A newly discovered insect
• Innovative research pioneers nanotechnology for gas sensing

Zika causes microcephaly and other birth defects, CDC concludes Posted: 13 Apr 2016 04:42 PM PDT Scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have concluded, after careful review of existing evidence, that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. In a new report, the CDC authors describe a rigorous weighing of evidence using established scientific criteria.

Ultrasound headset may be new way to recognize concussion on the sidelines Posted: 13 Apr 2016 03:30 PM PDT Mapping blood flow in the brain of athletes using an advanced form of ultrasound may make it easier to more accurately recognize concussions, according to a new study.

Probing the transforming world of neutrinos Posted: 13 Apr 2016 03:30 PM PDT Every second, trillions of neutrinos travel through your body unnoticed. Neutrinos are among the most abundant particles in the universe, but they are difficult to study because they very rarely interact with matter. To find traces of these elusive particles, researchers have built a 14,000-ton detector the size of two basketball courts called NuMI Off-Axis Electron Neutrino Appearance, or NOvA.

Immunosuppressive medication effectively treats ocular graft-versus-host-disease Posted: 13 Apr 2016 03:03 PM PDT A complication associated with bone marrow transplantation, graft-versus-host-disease, occurs when a transplanted immune system attacks certain parts of a host's body, and may cause severe dry eye and damage to the cornea. A clinical trial showed that topical doses of ultra low-dose tacrolimus, an immunosuppressive medication, is equally effective and showed fewer hypertensive side effects in treating ocular symptoms associated with graft-versus-host-disease than methylprednisolone, a steroid medication.

Spreading seeds by human migration Posted: 13 Apr 2016 03:03 PM PDT Using DNA collected from corn grown by immigrant farmers in Los Angeles and Riverside, researchers have found the genetic diversity of corn in some home and community gardens in Southern California far exceeds levels found in commercially available seeds.

Testosterone therapy decreases hospital readmissions in older men with low testosterone Posted: 13 Apr 2016 12:12 PM PDT Older men using testosterone therapy were less likely to have complications that require them to go back to the hospital within a month of being discharged than men not using this therapy, a new large-scale population-based study shows for the first time.

Fresh look at trope about Eskimo words for snow Posted: 13 Apr 2016 12:12 PM PDT Researchers have taken a fresh look at words for snow, taking on an urban legend referred to by some as 'the great Eskimo vocabulary hoax.'

Only half of advanced rectal cancer patients receiving standard therapy Posted: 13 Apr 2016 12:12 PM PDT While use of the standard therapy leading to the best outcome against locally advanced rectal cancer has increased over the past decade, only half of patients currently receive it, new research indicates.

On-the-go diagnosis of HIV and HCV co-infections Posted: 13 Apr 2016 12:11 PM PDT Researchers have recently developed a portable, paper-based electrochemical platform with multiplexing and telemedicine capabilities that may enable low-cost, point-of-care diagnosis of HIV and HCV co-infections within serum samples.

New imaging technique reveals vulnerability of coral reefs Posted: 13 Apr 2016 12:11 PM PDT Researchers have created a novel method using micro-computed tomography scans to expose how bioerosion and secondary accretion of corals -- critical processes for reef sustainability -- respond to varying environmental conditions, including changing ocean acidity.

Gut bacteria could help prevent cancer Posted: 13 Apr 2016 12:11 PM PDT New research offers evidence that anti-inflammatory 'health beneficial' gut bacteria can slow or stop the development of some types of cancer.

Twentieth century warming allowed moose to colonize the Alaskan tundra Posted: 13 Apr 2016 12:10 PM PDT The establishment of moose in tundra regions of Alaska was the result of warmer and longer summers that increased their shrub habitat, according to a new study.

Reflective Saharan silver ant hairs thermoregulate, create bright color Posted: 13 Apr 2016 12:10 PM PDT The body hairs of the Saharan silver ant cause total internal reflection of light to make the ants almost ten times more reflective, preventing overheating and yielding their silver sheen, according to a new study.

Current hepatitis C virus testing guidelines miss too many cases, study suggest Posted: 13 Apr 2016 11:01 AM PDT A review of blood samples for nearly 5,000 patients seen at one American hospital suggests that federal guidelines for hepatitis C virus screening may be missing up to a quarter of all cases and argues for updated universal screening.

Researchers uncover earliest events following HIV infection, before virus is detectable Posted: 13 Apr 2016 11:01 AM PDT New research in monkeys exposed to SIV, the animal equivalent of HIV, reveals what happens in the very earliest stages of infection, before virus is even detectable in the blood, which is a critical but difficult period to study in humans. The findings have important implications for vaccine development and other strategies to prevent infection.

Trap and neutralize: A new way to clean contaminated groundwater Posted: 13 Apr 2016 11:01 AM PDT A team of researchers has helped discover a new chemical method to immobilize uranium in contaminated groundwater, which could lead to more precise and successful water remediation efforts at former nuclear sites.

Downwind safety on the farm Posted: 13 Apr 2016 11:01 AM PDT New field research measured how far common bacteria -- including Salmonella and E. coli -- are likely to travel downwind from manure application sites. Proper spacing can ensure food safety.

Anti-fibrotic peptide shows early promise against interstitial lung disease Posted: 13 Apr 2016 11:01 AM PDT The M10 peptide reduces collagen production and reverses fibrotic damage due to systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD), preclinical findings suggests. ILD is one of the deadliest complications of SSc, a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by vasculopathy, autoimmunity, and excessive collagen production and deposition. Lung fibrosis carries a high risk of morbidity/mortality in SSc patients.

Electrons slide through the hourglass on surface of bizarre material Posted: 13 Apr 2016 11:01 AM PDT A new state of matter in which current flows only through a set of surface channels that resemble an hourglass is the subject of new research. The team theorized that a new particle, the 'hourglass fermion,' is responsible for this current flow. The tuning of the material's properties can sequentially create and destroy the hourglass fermions, suggesting a range of potential applications such as efficient transistor switching.

Device allows paralyzed man to swipe credit card, perform other movements Posted: 13 Apr 2016 11:01 AM PDT New research is enabling a quadriplegic Ohio man to regain his ability to pick up objects, stir liquids and even play video games -- using his own thoughts.

Using data to protect coral reefs from climate change Posted: 13 Apr 2016 11:01 AM PDT Coral reefs are early casualties of climate change, but not every coral reacts the same way to the stress of ocean warming. Researchers have developed the first-ever quantitative 'global index' detailing which of the world's coral species are most susceptible to coral bleaching and most likely to die. Based on historical data, the index can be used to compare the bleaching responses of the world's corals and to predict which corals may be most affected by future bleaching events.

Location data on two apps enough to identify someone, says study Posted: 13 Apr 2016 11:01 AM PDT A team of researchers demonstrate that location-tagged posts on just two social media apps are enough to link accounts held by the same person and identify him or her, raising new concerns about mobility metadata.

Most online liquid nicotine vendors fail to prevent sales to minors Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:59 AM PDT Across the United States, online vendors of e-liquids -- the nicotine-rich fluids that fuel electronic cigarettes -- are failing to take proper precautions in preventing sales to minors, according to a study.

Computers in your clothes? A milestone for wearable electronics Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:59 AM PDT Researchers who are working to develop wearable electronics have reached a milestone: They are able to embroider circuits into fabric with 0.1 mm precision -- the perfect size to integrate electronic components such as sensors and computer memory devices into clothing.

Gang membership linked to depression Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:59 AM PDT Kids who decide to join gangs are more likely to be depressed and suicidal -- and these mental health problems only worsen after joining, finds a new study.

Expanding insurance for single-embryo IVF could improve pregnancy outcomes Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:59 AM PDT Expanding insurance coverage for a type of in vitro fertilization known as elective single-embryo transfer could lead to improved health outcomes and lower health care costs, according to a newly published study.

Why bearcats smell like buttered popcorn Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:59 AM PDT The bearcat. The binturong. Whatever you call this shy, shaggy-haired creature from Southeast Asia, many people who have met one notice the same thing: it smells like a movie theater snack bar. Most describe it as hot buttered popcorn. And for good reason -- the chemical compound that gives freshly made popcorn its mouthwatering smell is also the major aroma emitted by binturong pee, finds a new study.

Are humans the new supercomputer? Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:58 AM PDT Online computer games allow gamers to solve a class of problems in quantum physics that cannot be easily solved by algorithms alone. Citizen science games have already proved successful in advancing scientific endeavours, but had not previously been applied to quantum physics. A Danish team of scientists find, that players succeed where purely numerical optimization fails, and they present a new optimization method based on the observed player strategies that outperforms prominent, established numerical methods.

Volcanic eruptions: How bubbles lead to disaster Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:57 AM PDT Why are volcanologists interested in vapor bubbles? Because they can accumulate in a magma reservoir underneath a volcano, priming it to explode. Researchers have now discovered how bubbles are able to accumulate in the magma.

Elusive state of superconducting matter discovered after 50 years Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:57 AM PDT Scientists have produced the first direct evidence of a state of electronic matter first predicted by theorists in 1964 -- a 'Cooper pair density wave.' The discovery may provide key insights into the workings of high-temperature superconductors.

Genetic diversity helps to limit infectious disease Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:57 AM PDT The idea that host diversity can limit disease outbreaks is not new. For example, crop monocultures in agriculture -- which lack genetic diversity -- can suffer severe disease outbreaks that sweep through the entire population. But why is this? Genetic diversity helps to reduce the spread of diseases by limiting parasite evolution, new research shows.

Vital nutrient has key role in keeping body clocks running on time Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:57 AM PDT The essential mineral magnesium has an unexpected role in helping living things remain adapted to the rhythms of night and day, scientists have discovered. Magnesium -- a nutrient found in many foods -- helps control how cells keep their own form of time to cope with the natural environmental cycle of day and night.

Repairing DNA damage in the human body Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:57 AM PDT DNA repair is compromised at important regions of our genome, shedding new light on the human body's capacity to repair DNA damage, medical scientists have discovered.

Prehistoric peepers give vital clue in solving 300 million year old 'Tully Monster' Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:56 AM PDT A 300-million-year-old fossil mystery has been solved by a research team which has identified that the ancient 'Tully Monster' was a vertebrate -- due to the unique characteristics of its eyes.

How LSD can make us lose our sense of self Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:56 AM PDT When people take the psychedelic drug LSD, they sometimes feel as though the boundary that separates them from the rest of the world has dissolved. Now, the first functional magnetic resonance images of people's brains while on LSD help to explain this phenomenon known as 'ego dissolution.'

Global studies reveal health financing crisis facing developing countries Posted: 13 Apr 2016 09:10 AM PDT Two major studies reveal the health financing crisis facing developing countries as a result of low domestic investment and stagnating international aid, which could leave millions of people without access to even the most basic health services.

Study discovers link between cancer and autism Posted: 13 Apr 2016 09:09 AM PDT Although patients who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder have a higher burden of mutations in cancer-promoting oncogenes, they actually have lower rates of cancer, new research shows.

In wide range of species, longevity proteins affect dozens of the same genes Posted: 13 Apr 2016 09:09 AM PDT Scientists studying the biology of aging have found dozens of genes common to worms, flies, mice and humans that are all affected by the same family of proteins.

Gene variant explains racial disparities in adverse reactions to urate-lowering drug Posted: 13 Apr 2016 09:09 AM PDT A multi-institutional study finds significant racial disparities in the risk that patients being treated for gout will develop a serious, sometimes life-threatening adverse reaction to the most commonly prescribed medication, a risk that closely correlates with the frequency of a gene variant previously associated with that adverse reaction.

Changes in state policies impact fatal, non-fatal assaults of law enforcement officers Posted: 13 Apr 2016 09:09 AM PDT State-level policy changes can impact the number of fatal and non-fatal assaults, including shootings, of law enforcement officers, a new study finds.

Drug candidate stops extra bone growth in animal model of rare, genetic disease Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:35 AM PDT New preclinical research provides support to a drug that has been repurposed to possibly treat a rare and extremely disabling genetic bone disease, particularly in children. In that disease, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), a mutation triggers bone growth in muscles, alters skeletal bone formation, and limits motion, breathing, and swallowing, among a host of progressive symptoms.

What causes déjà vu? Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:35 AM PDT You walk into a room and suddenly your brain goes fuzzy with an overwhelming wave of familiarity--although this is a totally new experience. Like something out of a sci-fi plot, it almost seems as if you've walked into the future. A new study shines a spotlight on this situation, known as déjà vu.

Origin of life: Temperature gradients within pores in rock could have separated primitive biopolymers Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:34 AM PDT Physicists report that temperature gradients within pores in rock could have separated primitive biopolymers on the basis of their sequences -- a vital precondition for the formation of self-replicating systems in the primordial ocean.

Rising carbon dioxide levels reduce protein in crucial pollen source for bees Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:34 AM PDT Rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide have reduced protein in goldenrod pollen, a key late-season food source for North American bees, a new study shows.

Could a brain 'growth chart' spot attention problems early? New study suggests so Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:32 AM PDT New research suggests that it might be possible to create a growth chart of brain networks that could identify early signs of attention difficulties and, potentially, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

New asthma biomarkers could ease detection Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:23 AM PDT People with asthma have telltale molecules circulating in their blood, say researchers. This discovery could lead to the first diagnostic blood test for asthma, as well as more targeted treatments.

Experts respond to new wildlife health concern Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:21 AM PDT In response to news of the first confirmed mortality of a Common Loon due to avian malaria in the Northeast, experts have initiated a crowd funding campaign to investigate the scope of the finding.

Can training help make employees more resilient? Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:21 AM PDT A five-hour educational program can promote resilience among employees facing downsizing and restructuring, according to a new study. Especially at times of organizational change, many companies use resilience programs to help employees cope with the changes while reducing the potential for negative effects on workforce and business outcomes.

Link between obesity, kidney cancer identified Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:21 AM PDT Receptors for leptin, a protein hormone, may be associated with tumor recurrence in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), providing further understanding about molecular links between obesity and RCC tumor formation and prognosis, according to a study.

Some drug addicts more likely to relapse than others: Study Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:21 AM PDT Opioids are highly addicting and liable for abuse. Methadone maintenance treatment is the most common intervention for those with drug addiction, but relapse is common, with 46% of patients continuing to use illicit opioids during or after the methadone treatment.

'Proliposomal' local anesthetic shows promise for longer-lasting pain relief Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:21 AM PDT A new "proliposomal" preparation of the local anesthetic drug ropivacaine may provide a valuable new option for pain relief in some clinical situations, with key advantages over other types of slow-release local anesthetics, suggests new research.

Microplastics harm freshwater fauna Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:12 AM PDT Plastic pollution limits the mobility of water fleas, new research indicates. Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic less than five millimeters in size. They are polluting rivers and ponds along with chemical contaminants, the researchers report.

City moths avoid the light Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:12 AM PDT The globally increasing light pollution has negative effects on organisms and entire ecosystems. The consequences are especially hard on nocturnal insects, since their attraction to artificial light sources generally ends fatal. A new study now shows that urban moths have learned to avoid light.

Gene defect may point to solution for Alzheimer's Posted: 13 Apr 2016 08:12 AM PDT New research has discovered that one protein, called PITRM1, which is found in mitochondria, otherwise known as the powerhouses of the cell, may be involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Simulating carbon dioxide saturation in rocks gives potential breakthrough in carbon capture, storage Posted: 13 Apr 2016 07:57 AM PDT A successful new simulation method for characterizing carbon dioxide transfer and storage in natural rock reservoirs has been developed by researchers. The team scanned rocks with X-ray microcomputed tomography and combined the results with detailed mathematical simulation to visualize real displacement of water by carbon dioxide below ground, potentially leading to means of actual carbon dioxide storage in rocks.

Pain drug in pipeline as researchers unwind marine snail puzzle Posted: 13 Apr 2016 07:57 AM PDT A big step toward the holy grail of biomedical science has been made -- a new form of effective pain relief. Marine snail venom has been a well-known and promising source of new pain drugs, but substantial hurdles had restrained progress to date.

Riddle of missing efficiency in zinc oxide-based dye-sensitised solar cells solved Posted: 13 Apr 2016 07:57 AM PDT To convert solar energy into electricity or solar fuels, you need specialized systems of materials such as those consisting of organic and inorganic thin films. Processes at the junction of these films play a decisive role in converting the solar energy. Now a team of researchers has used ultra-short laser pulses and observed for the first time directly how boundary states form between the organic dye molecules and a zinc-oxide semiconductor layer, temporarily trapping the charge carriers.

After 18 million years, a new species of extinct rodent discovered in Israel Posted: 13 Apr 2016 07:57 AM PDT A handful of tiny teeth found in Israel's Negev desert led researchers to describe a new species of rodent which has been extinct for nearly 18 million years.

Asiagomphus reinhardti: A newly discovered insect Posted: 13 Apr 2016 07:43 AM PDT A newly discovered dragonfly species was named after the zoologist Klaus Reinhardt.

Innovative research pioneers nanotechnology for gas sensing Posted: 13 Apr 2016 07:43 AM PDT A new type of device that could be used to develop cost-effective gas sensors has been developed by a team of researchers. The team has created a new type of device that emits light in the infrared part of the spectrum. Many important gases strongly absorb infrared light and this characteristic absorption can be used as a way of sensing them.

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