ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Post-conflict reconciliation led to societal healing, but worsened psychological health
• Microwaved nanoribbons may bolster oil and gas wells
• Diabetes drug found no better than placebo at treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
• Rare human disease found in dogs
• Ingestible robot operates in simulated stomach
• Space mission first to observe key interaction between magnetic fields of Earth and sun
• Gene regulatory mutation linked to rare childhood cancer
• How Arctic spring kills birds in Africa
• Database helps researchers connect exposures to health effects, compare diseases
• Found: Surviving evidence of Earth's formative years
• Team discovers new HIV vaccine target
• Study of glioma susceptibility in dogs may yield insights for humans
• Women's preference for smaller competition may account for inequality
• Small blue galaxy could shed new light on Big Bang
• How light is detected affects the atom that emits it
• Mice cooperate if they benefit
• At Attention, Molecules!
• Distance makes the habits healthier: Advice on snacking
• Solving the biomass puzzle
• Depression is driven by networks of genes that span brain circuits, study suggests
• Male birds may sing, but females are faster at discriminating sounds
• Use of complementary, alternative medicine affects initiation of chemotherapy
• Gene expression depends on aonstant dialogue between nucleus, cytoplasm
• New SLENDR technique: Protein labeling in developing brain by genome editing
• When dung beetles dance, they photograph the firmament
• Online therapy effective at treating depression and anxiety
• Stopping cancer in its tracks
• Scientists identify key factor in mitochondrial calcium uptake and bioenergetics
• Melatonin signaling is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes
• Study identifies potential treatment target for pancreatic cancer
• Change the Textbooks: This eukaryote completely lacks mitochondria
• Zika virus: Optimized tests for reliable diagnosis
• Hay fever's hidden supporting substances
• Fighting hospital germs with sugar
• Hedgehogs are indeed not so widespread in England any more
• babies of mothers with gestational diabetes have more body fat, Scans reveal
• Marijuana use in pregnancy is major risk for pre-term birth
• Migrant money puts aid in the shade
• Cooperation, not struggle for survival, drives evolution, say researchers
• Viruses detected in Swedish mosquito larvae
• Finger-specific key presses could speed up computer interaction
• Skull specializations allow bats to feast on their fellow vertebrates
• Two imaging catheters unite to better detect dangerous plaques in arteries
• Patients may not need to wait two weeks to shower following knee replacement surgery
• Chronic drinking interferes with absorption of critical vitamins by pancreas
• Should we rethink of causes of dementia?
• Physical activity, functional ability increase after weight loss surgery
• Better search engine results thanks to new method
• Loneliness in midlife: Risk of becoming lonely is not limited to old age
• Social engineering: Password in exchange for chocolate
• More urinary tract stones are being treated with surgery
• Research shows inaccuracies in emission measurements of important greenhouse gas nitrous oxide
• Scientists develop new treatment to prolong life of those with cystic fibrosis
• Emotions in the age of Botox
• Donor kidneys may be discarded due to 'weekend effect' at hospitals
• Benefits of calcium supplements may be outweighed by cardiovascular risks
• First graders can analyze stories like experts
• Fluorescent jellyfish gene sheds light on 'fitness landscape'
• World's first wireless satellite
• New bio-glass could make it possible to re-grow or replace cartilage

Post-conflict reconciliation led to societal healing, but worsened psychological health Posted: 12 May 2016 01:10 PM PDT Reconciliation programs promote societal healing, but that these gains come at the cost of reduced psychological health, worsening depression, anxiety, and trauma.

Microwaved nanoribbons may bolster oil and gas wells Posted: 12 May 2016 01:07 PM PDT Researchers have microwaved composite materials of graphene nanoribbons and thermoset polymers to dramatically reinforce wellbores.

Diabetes drug found no better than placebo at treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Posted: 12 May 2016 01:06 PM PDT A diabetes medication described in some studies as an effective treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) works no better than a placebo, report researchers after conducting the first randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial of sitagliptin, an oral antihyperglycemic marketed under the name Januvia.

Rare human disease found in dogs Posted: 12 May 2016 01:06 PM PDT A rare, severe form of pulmonary hypertension, which up until now, has only been classified as a human lung disease, has also been discovered in dogs according to an American study.

Ingestible robot operates in simulated stomach Posted: 12 May 2016 01:06 PM PDT In experiments involving a simulation of the human esophagus and stomach, researchers have demonstrated a tiny origami robot that can unfold itself from a swallowed capsule and, steered by external magnetic fields, crawl across the stomach wall to remove a swallowed button battery or patch a wound.

Space mission first to observe key interaction between magnetic fields of Earth and sun Posted: 12 May 2016 11:55 AM PDT Physicists have now provided the first major results of NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, including an unprecedented look at the interaction between the magnetic fields of Earth and the sun. The article describes the first direct and detailed observation of a phenomenon known as magnetic reconnection, which occurs when two opposing magnetic field lines break and reconnect with each other, releasing massive amounts of energy.

Gene regulatory mutation linked to rare childhood cancer Posted: 12 May 2016 11:54 AM PDT A single defect in a gene that codes for a histone -- a 'spool' that wraps idle DNA -- is linked to pediatric cancers, a new study indicates. Histones derive their pattern from the same genome that they help to pack up and organize.

How Arctic spring kills birds in Africa Posted: 12 May 2016 11:54 AM PDT Red knot birds are becoming smaller as temperatures warm in their Arctic breeding grounds. But the migrating birds don't pay the price for this climate-caused shrinkage until they arrive at the more stable climate of their tropical winter homes.

Database helps researchers connect exposures to health effects, compare diseases Posted: 12 May 2016 11:54 AM PDT Two new studies give researchers new strategies for connecting environmental exposures to human health effects. To determine whether a drug can be used to treat more than one disease, scientists look for overlaps between the set of genes that play a role in each disease: the more genes in common, the more likely the drug can be repurposed to treat both illnesses. The problem is that not all the genes involved in any one disease are always known, they say.

Found: Surviving evidence of Earth's formative years Posted: 12 May 2016 11:53 AM PDT New work has found material in rock formations that dates back to shortly after Earth formed. The discovery will help scientists understand the processes that shaped our planet's formative period and its internal dynamics over the last 4.5 billion years.

Team discovers new HIV vaccine target Posted: 12 May 2016 11:53 AM PDT A team of scientists has reported a research trifecta. They discovered a new vulnerable site on HIV for a vaccine to target, a broadly neutralizing antibody that binds to that target site, and how the antibody stops the virus from infecting a cell.

Study of glioma susceptibility in dogs may yield insights for humans Posted: 12 May 2016 11:53 AM PDT A new study of the genetic factors underlying glioma formation in dogs may hold clues to how these common and often untreatable tumors form in humans. The genome study, which was conducted across 25 dog breeds, identified three genes associated with the tumor.

Women's preference for smaller competition may account for inequality Posted: 12 May 2016 11:29 AM PDT When applying for a job or to college, women seek positions with fewer applicants than men, according to a new study. The researchers found that the size of a competition--such as the number of applicants to a particular job or the number of people vying for a monetary reward--shapes who enters the competition.

Small blue galaxy could shed new light on Big Bang Posted: 12 May 2016 11:29 AM PDT A faint blue galaxy nicknamed Leoncino, or 'little lion,' about 30 million light-years from Earth and located in the constellation Leo Minor has been identified by astronomers as possessing qualities that could shed new light on conditions at the birth of the universe.

How light is detected affects the atom that emits it Posted: 12 May 2016 11:29 AM PDT Flick a switch on a dark winter day and your office is flooded with bright light, one of many everyday miracles to which we are all usually oblivious. A physicist would probably describe what is happening in terms of the particle nature of light. An atom or molecule in the fluorescent tube that is in an excited state spontaneously decays to a lower energy state, releasing a particle called a photon. When the photon enters your eye, something similar happens but in reverse. The photon is absorbed by a molecule in the retina and its energy kicks that molecule into an excited state. Light is both a particle and a wave, and this duality is fundamental to the physics that rule the Lilliputian world of atoms and molecules. Yet it would seem that in this case the wave nature of light can be safely ignored. Researcher might now give you an argument about that.

Mice cooperate if they benefit Posted: 12 May 2016 11:29 AM PDT House mice often raise their offspring in a communal nest. A new study reveals that females tend to be more willing to raise their offspring cooperatively if they have similar litter sizes so that the investment is shared equally. As soon as the litter sizes differ, there are fewer communal nests. The mice therefore adjust their willingness to cooperate to the expected benefits.

At Attention, Molecules! Posted: 12 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT Chemists have learned about a molecular assembly that may help create quicker, more responsive touch screens, among other applications. The researchers report the interfacial layer—when molecules interact with a surface—of electrically charged fluids called ionic liquids is thicker than previously known.

Distance makes the habits healthier: Advice on snacking Posted: 12 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT Free food: It's a growing workplace trend, especially in tech companies, to incentivize productivity and morale around the office. But how can companies promote healthy choices and still provide indulgent goodies? Google executives asked a consumer behavior expert to help them resolve that question by examining the role of relative proximity in behavior.

Solving the biomass puzzle Posted: 12 May 2016 10:05 AM PDT Biomass holds great promise as a petroleum replacement, but unlocking its true potential remains a puzzle. A group of researchers hope to develop the pieces of that puzzle to create a clearer picture of what takes place within a plant and how that applies to its downstream uses as biomass.

Depression is driven by networks of genes that span brain circuits, study suggests Posted: 12 May 2016 10:05 AM PDT Depression is a disorder that involves changes in coordinated networks of hundreds of genes across key brain circuits, according to a study. Researchers show through their work how tweaking gene networks can affect susceptibility to depression.

Male birds may sing, but females are faster at discriminating sounds Posted: 12 May 2016 10:03 AM PDT It may well be that only male zebra finches can sing, but the females are faster at learning to discriminate sounds, researchers have found. The aim of the research was to find out why some birds could recognize sounds faster than others.

Use of complementary, alternative medicine affects initiation of chemotherapy Posted: 12 May 2016 09:54 AM PDT Women with early-stage breast cancer for whom chemotherapy was indicated and who used dietary supplements and multiple types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) were less likely to start chemotherapy than nonusers of alternative therapies, according to new research. This is one of the first studies to evaluate how complementary and alternative medicine use affects decisions regarding chemotherapy.

Gene expression depends on aonstant dialogue between nucleus, cytoplasm Posted: 12 May 2016 09:54 AM PDT Gene expression is the process by which genetic information is used to produce proteins, essential for cells to function properly. It takes place in two steps (first the transcription, then the translation), considered to be two independent processes until now. Today, microbiologists provide additional evidence that they are intrinsically related and that a protein complex called Ccr4-Not plays a key role in gene expression by acting as a messenger between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.

New SLENDR technique: Protein labeling in developing brain by genome editing Posted: 12 May 2016 09:54 AM PDT A research team has developed a method, called SLENDR, that allows precise modification of neuronal DNA in living samples. Using their new technique, the research team was able to reliably label two different proteins with distinct colors at the same time in the same cell. The researchers used a variety of imaging methods as well as DNA sequencing to confirm that the SLENDR method had truly and precisely knocked in the genes.

When dung beetles dance, they photograph the firmament Posted: 12 May 2016 09:54 AM PDT The discovery that dung beetles use the light of the Milky Way to navigate in the world has received much praise. Researchers have now taken a new step in understanding the existence of these unique beetles: when the beetles dance on top of a ball of dung, they simultaneously take a photograph -- a snapshot -- of how celestial bodies are positioned.

Online therapy effective at treating depression and anxiety Posted: 12 May 2016 09:49 AM PDT Providing an online computerized cognitive behavioral therapy (CCBT) program both alone and in combination with Internet support groups (ISG) is a more effective treatment for anxiety and depression than doctors' usual primary care, a new study has demonstrated.

Stopping cancer in its tracks Posted: 12 May 2016 09:49 AM PDT Inhibiting autophagy, the process cells use to degrade large intra-cellular cargo, effectively blocks tumor cell migration and breast cancer metastasis in tumor models. Metastasis is responsible for 90 percent of cancer deaths. There are approved drugs that can disrupt autophagy.

Scientists identify key factor in mitochondrial calcium uptake and bioenergetics Posted: 12 May 2016 09:49 AM PDT Mitochondria are the energy-generating batteries of cells, but they also perform other critical functions, including protecting cells against calcium overload, a significant cause of cell death in certain cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Underlying this safety mechanism is a protein complex known as the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU). New work shows how MCU proteins come together to effect calcium uptake, shedding new light on the physiological role of the MCU complex and its importance to cellular bioenergetics.

Melatonin signaling is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes Posted: 12 May 2016 09:49 AM PDT A sleeping pancreas releases less insulin, but how much insulin drops each night may differ from person to person, suggests a new study. Up to 30 percent of the population may be predisposed to have a pancreas that's more sensitive to the insulin-inhibiting effects of melatonin. People with this increased sensitivity carry a slightly altered melatonin receptor gene that is a known risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

Study identifies potential treatment target for pancreatic cancer Posted: 12 May 2016 09:49 AM PDT Investigators have identified the first potential molecular treatment target for the most common form of pancreatic cancer, which kills more than 90 percent of patients.

Change the Textbooks: This eukaryote completely lacks mitochondria Posted: 12 May 2016 09:49 AM PDT Mitochondria are membrane-bound components within cells that are often described as the cells' powerhouses. They've long been considered as essential components for life in eukaryotes, the group including plants, fungi, animals, and unicellular protists, if for no other reason than that every known eukaryote had them. But researchers now challenges this notion. They've discovered a eukaryote that contains absolutely no trace of mitochondria at all.

Zika virus: Optimized tests for reliable diagnosis Posted: 12 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT Scientists have shown that not all conventional Zika virus molecular diagnostic tests are sufficiently reliable. Diagnosing Zika viruses reliably is of major importance--for both patients and further research on the spread of the virus. The Zika virus is currently spreading in Central and South America; over one million people have become infected since spring 2015.

Hay fever's hidden supporting substances Posted: 12 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT Up to now, research into pollen allergies has largely focused on allergens. Upon contact with the nasal mucous membrane, however, pollen releases a host of other substances. A team of researchers has investigated effects of these substances. It emerged that non-allergenic components have a significant influence on the immune response. The results suggest that it may be time to rethink the current methods of treating allergies.

Fighting hospital germs with sugar Posted: 12 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT A synthetic sugar-based molecule activates the immune system and could serve as a vaccine against C. difficile bacteria, say scientists. The discovery may pave the way for developing inexpensive and effective vaccines and drugs against the illness.

Hedgehogs are indeed not so widespread in England any more Posted: 12 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT There's now more than just anecdotal evidence that England's hedgehog population is feeling the squeeze. In the past 55 years, there has been a moderate decline of up to 7.4 percent in the areas they frequent.

babies of mothers with gestational diabetes have more body fat, Scans reveal Posted: 12 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes have more body fat at two months of age compared to babies born to healthy mothers, says a new study. Scientists used MRI scanning to measure body fat in 86 babies -- they took these readings shortly after birth, and again when the babies were 8-12 weeks old.

Marijuana use in pregnancy is major risk for pre-term birth Posted: 12 May 2016 07:09 AM PDT For the first time, science has shown a direct link between continued marijuana use during pregnancy and pre-term birth. The results show that once all other major risk factors have been accounted for, continued marijuana use through to 20 weeks' gestation is independently associated with a five-fold increase in the risk of pre-term birth.

Migrant money puts aid in the shade Posted: 12 May 2016 07:07 AM PDT International remittances have poverty and inequality-reducing effects in Sub-Saharan Africa, new research suggests. The results suggest that a 10% increase in remittances as share of gross domestic product (GDP) will lead to a 1.2% decline in the number of people living on less than US$1.25 per day, 2.4% decline in the depth of poverty, 3.1% decline in the number of people living in extreme poverty and 1.5% decline in inequality.

Cooperation, not struggle for survival, drives evolution, say researchers Posted: 12 May 2016 07:07 AM PDT Using a new conceptual evolutionary model, investigators have reviewed the debated mechanism of speciation, suggesting that competition and a struggle for the existence are not the main drivers of evolution. This research points out the importance of avoidance of competition, biological history, endogenosymbiosis, and three-dimensionality as the main forces that structure ecosystems and allow the evolution of biological diversity.

Viruses detected in Swedish mosquito larvae Posted: 12 May 2016 07:05 AM PDT After an outbreak of Ockelbo disease in northern Sweden in 2013, researchers were able to trace the virus to mosquitoes. In a new study, researchers have shown that mosquito larvae also carry viruses that can cause infectious disease. These include the Sindbis virus, which causes Ockelbo disease, which is associated with fever, rashes and prolonged joint pain.

Finger-specific key presses could speed up computer interaction Posted: 12 May 2016 07:05 AM PDT If you're looking for a way to use a computer more efficiently, researchers may have a solution for you. Researchers have recently filed a patent that would allow computer users to trigger different shortcut commands by pressing the same keyboard key with different fingers, hands, or hand postures.

Skull specializations allow bats to feast on their fellow vertebrates Posted: 12 May 2016 07:05 AM PDT Over their 52-million-year history, a few bats have evolved a taste for their fellow vertebrates. Now biologists are shedding light on how these so-called 'carnivorous bats' adapted to the daunting task of chowing down their backboned prey.

Two imaging catheters unite to better detect dangerous plaques in arteries Posted: 12 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT A promising new method for identifying atherosclerotic plaques, the encased deposits in arteries that restrict blood flow and can lead to heart attack or stroke, has been revealed by researchers. The technique combines two different types of imaging, allowing for an unprecedented combination of depth and detail. The hybrid technology will provide doctors with a better diagnostic tool for identifying particularly problematic plaques.

Patients may not need to wait two weeks to shower following knee replacement surgery Posted: 12 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT It may not be necessary for knee replacement patients to wait up to two weeks after surgery before showering, as many surgeons now require, new research indicates.

Chronic drinking interferes with absorption of critical vitamins by pancreas Posted: 12 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT Chronic exposure to alcohol interferes with the pancreas' ability to absorb vitamin C, potentially predisposing the body to pancreatitis and other pancreatic diseases, a new study reports. The findings provide a link between chronic alcohol use and poor pancreatic health.

Should we rethink of causes of dementia? Posted: 12 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT A new theory for the causes of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases has been developed, involving an out-of-control immune system.

Physical activity, functional ability increase after weight loss surgery Posted: 12 May 2016 05:52 AM PDT People who have their stomach size surgically reduced move around more and easier after weight loss surgery, a study has found. Patients are able to walk further and are more physically active in the first year following the procedure, according to the research.

Better search engine results thanks to new method Posted: 12 May 2016 05:52 AM PDT How does Google decide which search results to display? One developer has created a new method by which dozens or even hundreds of search algorithms can be compared with each other simultaneously. This may mean that the best search algorithm can be selected faster than was previously possible.

Loneliness in midlife: Risk of becoming lonely is not limited to old age Posted: 12 May 2016 05:52 AM PDT Investigators have been able to find out in which phases of our lives we are most at risk of becoming lonely. Their findings show that loneliness most often affects people in old age, beginning at approximately eighty. But there are also phases in midlife at which the risk is high.

Social engineering: Password in exchange for chocolate Posted: 12 May 2016 05:51 AM PDT It requires a lot of effort and expense for computer hackers to program a Trojan virus and infiltrate individual or company computers. They are therefore increasingly relying on psychological strategies to manipulate computer users into voluntarily divulging their login details. These methods are known as "social engineering". For the first time, psychologists have conducted a large-scale study (involving 1,208 people) to investigate how people are manipulated into sharing their passwords with complete strangers in return for small gifts.

More urinary tract stones are being treated with surgery Posted: 12 May 2016 05:51 AM PDT Researchers who analyzed recent trends related to urinary tract stones in the UK found a sustained and high prevalence of the condition, with an increased trend to treat patients with surgery. The number of upper urinary tract stone episodes in hospitals increased from 83,050 in 2009-2010 to 86,742 in 2014-2015. The use of non-invasive shock wave lithotripsy remained stable over this time; however, surgical intervention for stones in the ureter or kidney rose nearly 50% from 12,062 to 18,055 cases in the 5-year study period.

Research shows inaccuracies in emission measurements of important greenhouse gas nitrous oxide Posted: 12 May 2016 05:51 AM PDT Nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane are the most important greenhouse gases. Nitrous oxide also participates in the destruction of stratospheric ozone. To mitigate global warming, we have to control nitrous oxide emissions. A recent study provides new knowledge on nitrous oxide emissions and shows that there can be significant inaccuracies in the traditional emission measurements.

Scientists develop new treatment to prolong life of those with cystic fibrosis Posted: 12 May 2016 05:51 AM PDT A new molecule has been discovered that has the potential to prolong the life of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). The molecule represents a possible future treatment and works by altering cellular ion channels resulting in improved airway hydration and significantly increased mucus clearance.

Emotions in the age of Botox Posted: 12 May 2016 05:51 AM PDT Aesthetic treatments based on botulin toxin affect the perception of emotions, new research shows. The consequence of having Botox injected, scientists explain, depends on a temporary block of proprioceptive feedback, a process that helps us understand other people's emotions by reproducing them on our own bodies.

Donor kidneys may be discarded due to 'weekend effect' at hospitals Posted: 12 May 2016 05:51 AM PDT Investigators have uncovered a "weekend effect" contributing to the worsening availability of donor kidneys in the United States. They found that kidneys that would normally be made available for transplantation were less likely to be procured from donors over the weekend (89.5% on the weekend vs. 90.2% during the week). Further, organs procured during the weekend were more than 20% more likely to be discarded than kidneys procured on other days, although the discarded kidneys were of higher quality on average than those discarded during the week, according to a new report.

Benefits of calcium supplements may be outweighed by cardiovascular risks Posted: 12 May 2016 05:49 AM PDT Taking calcium and vitamin D can help prevent broken bones in older women. However, this benefit may be cancelled out by an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, say researchers.

First graders can analyze stories like experts Posted: 12 May 2016 05:49 AM PDT With a little help, six-year-olds can read texts in the same way as adult literary scholars.

Fluorescent jellyfish gene sheds light on 'fitness landscape' Posted: 12 May 2016 05:49 AM PDT By studying more than 50,000 variants of a jellyfish gene, researchers have drawn a detailed picture of how changes in that gene affect its function.

World's first wireless satellite Posted: 12 May 2016 05:49 AM PDT A satellite whose components are not connected through electric cables but miniaturized radio modules: This innovation has earned two computer scientists the first place in the INNOspace Masters competition.

New bio-glass could make it possible to re-grow or replace cartilage Posted: 12 May 2016 05:49 AM PDT Scientists have developed a material that can mimic cartilage and potentially encourage it to re-grow. The material can be formulated to exhibit different properties, and researchers are now hoping to use it to develop implants for replacing damaged cartilage discs between vertebrae.

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