ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Mantis shrimp inspires new body armor, football helmet design
• New tool identifies novel compound targeting causes of type 2 diabetes
• Fossil of huge 'walking' bat discovered in New Zealand
• Vinculin protein boosts function in the aging heart
• Barnacles go with the flow to find a home on dolphin fins
• Elucidation of chemical ingredients in rice straw
• Coordinating across eight agencies to count vulnerable shorebirds
• 'Bashful' black hole revealed in neighboring galaxy
• Alaska glaciers make large contributions to global sea level rise
• A new look at surface chemistry
• Conflicting histories harm negotiations, researchers say
• Restoring natural immunity against cancers
• Potent approach shows promise for chronic pain
• Important advance in the treatment, prevention of bacterial infection
• What don't you understand about yes and no?
• First sensor of Earth's magnetic field in an animal
• Fructose powers a vicious circle
• Moon engulfed in permanent, lopsided dust cloud
• Recalling positive memories reverses stress-induced depression
• Mould unlocks new route to biofuels
• 'Broken windows' theory of neighborhood crime too broad to be effective
• Acid-reducing medications sharply raise risk of C. difficile bacteria infection in kids
• Weighing yourself daily can tip the scale in your favor
• Astronomers create array of Earth-like planet models
• Network model for tracking Twitter memes sheds light on information spreading in the brain
• Understanding how animals make sense of the auditory world
• Love, factually: Gerontologist finds the formula to a happy marriage
• 400,000-year-old dental tartar provides earliest evidence of humanmade pollution
• Medical resources allocated equally across groups, but more efficiently across individuals, study shows
• Research explores national trends in commuting patterns
• Beating advanced cancers: New epigenomic block for advanced cancer
• Individuals with social phobia have too much serotonin -- not too little
• Breast-conserving therapy for early-stage cancers has increased substantially, though access remains an issue
• The surprising truths about caregivers
• Gene discovery could lead to muscular dystrophy treatment
• Vitreomacular adhesion patients report improved vision with non-surgical treatment
• Parents' comparisons make siblings different
• Inkjet inks made of silk could yield smart bandages, bacteria-sensing gloves and more
• Fish offer lessons in effective leadership
• Adenosine in Ambrosia pollen increases allergic response
• New taxonomy classifies rare genetic bone disorders by metabolic pathogenesis
• Rare disorder found to have a common form
• No benefit in IVF from routinely freezing all embryos before transfer
• Warning over poor cooking skills among teenagers
• Who’s your daddy? If you're a gorilla, it doesn't matter
• Exercise can help control blood glucose, and trim waist size and body fat in diabetics regardless of fitness gains
• Seeing where stars collide
• Human cells used to create fully functioning lipid system in mouse model
• Tissue 'scaffold' technology could help rebuild large organs
• Best observational evidence of first generation stars in the universe
• Stronger working memory, reduced sexual risk-taking in adolescents
• Early life stress affects cognitive functioning in low-income children
• Longer breaks between shifts promote nurses' recovery from work
• Age-related inflammatory processes facilitate development of COPD
• Why the Sun's atmosphere is hotter than its surface
• How the brain learns to distinguish between what is important and what is not
• Ataxia mouse model: Eye blink conditioning for early diagnosis of human disease SCA6
• Is phthalate alternative really safe?
• Data bank launched for global access to ancient DNA
• Researchers develop pioneering new method to map enzyme activity

Mantis shrimp inspires new body armor, football helmet design Posted: 17 Jun 2015 11:45 AM PDT The mantis shrimp is able to repeatedly pummel the shells of prey using a hammer-like appendage that can withstand rapid-fire blows by neutralizing certain frequencies of 'shear waves,' according to new research. Using this information, researchers suggest that these shrimp may therefore be a model to inspire new body armor and even football helmet design.

New tool identifies novel compound targeting causes of type 2 diabetes Posted: 17 Jun 2015 11:44 AM PDT A new drug screening technology has identified a new potential anti-diabetes compound -- and a powerful way to quickly test whether other molecules can have a positive effect on a critical molecular pathway believed to be central to diseases ranging from diabetes to retinitis pigmentosa, cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, and Alzheimer's.

Fossil of huge 'walking' bat discovered in New Zealand Posted: 17 Jun 2015 11:44 AM PDT Fossilized remains of a new bat species, which lived 16 million years ago, walked on four limbs and was three times larger than today's average bat, have been discovered in New Zealand.

Vinculin protein boosts function in the aging heart Posted: 17 Jun 2015 11:44 AM PDT A team of researchers provide new insights on how hearts 'stay young' and keep functioning over a lifetime despite the fact that most organisms generate few new heart cells. Identifying key gene expression changes that promote heart function as organisms age could lead to new therapy targets that address age-related heart failure.

Barnacles go with the flow to find a home on dolphin fins Posted: 17 Jun 2015 11:44 AM PDT Highly specialized coronulid barnacles may be able to identify and attach to the fins of quick-swimming dolphins, locating areas suited for finding food and developing larvae.

Elucidation of chemical ingredients in rice straw Posted: 17 Jun 2015 11:44 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have successfully elucidated the biochemical and biofuel-producing materials contained in rice straw. Future applications include using these materials in species of rice with high starch content, as well as reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of biochemical and biofuel production.

Coordinating across eight agencies to count vulnerable shorebirds Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:56 AM PDT American Oystercatcher nests are sparsely distributed, time-intensive to find, and often in remote locations, all adding to the challenge of estimating the size of their breeding population. However, a new study demonstrates that a new, simplified survey method, coordinated across eight agencies, has tremendous potential to provide accurate population estimates and aid in the species' conservation.

'Bashful' black hole revealed in neighboring galaxy Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:56 AM PDT Radio observations give new evidence for long-sought supermassive black hole in small satellite galaxy orbiting the Andromeda Galaxy.

Alaska glaciers make large contributions to global sea level rise Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:56 AM PDT Alaska's melting glaciers are adding enough water to the Earth's oceans to cover the state of Alaska with a 1-foot thick layer of water every seven years, a new study shows.

A new look at surface chemistry Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:54 AM PDT Scientists have used a new scanning electron microscopy technique to resolve the unique atomic structure at the surface of a material. This new technique holds promise for the study of catalysis, corrosion and other critical chemical reactions.

Conflicting histories harm negotiations, researchers say Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:54 AM PDT New research examines how past histories are harmful in negotiations, particularly when an event in the past benefited one party at the other's expense. In those situations, the party that got the short end of the stick tends to believe that they are owed retribution. The party that triumphed in the past, in contrast, tends to think that the past is irrelevant -- bygones should be treated as bygones.

Restoring natural immunity against cancers Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:54 AM PDT Scientists have successfully increased the infiltration of immune cells into tumors, thus inducing the immune system to block tumor growth. In a new article, the scientists show that, in combination with existing immunotherapies, this process efficiently destroys cancer cells.

Potent approach shows promise for chronic pain Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:54 AM PDT Non-narcotic treatments for chronic pain that work well in people, not just mice, are sorely needed. Drawing from human pain genetics, an international team of researchers demonstrates a way to break the cycle of pain hypersensitivity without the development of addiction, tolerance or side effects.

Important advance in the treatment, prevention of bacterial infection Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:54 AM PDT A new technology which could increase protection against antibacterial and antifungal infection for weeks, months or years has been developed by researchers. The technology is likely to have significant impact across a number of areas including dentistry, where one in seven composite fillings fail within seven years and 86 percent of these failures are caused by bacterial infection.

What don't you understand about yes and no? Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:54 AM PDT The words 'yes' and 'no' may seem like two of the easiest expressions to understand in any language, but their actual behavior and interpretation are surprisingly difficult to pin down. In a new paper, two linguists examine the workings of 'yes' and 'no' and show that understanding them leads to new insights concerning the understanding of questions and statements more generally.

First sensor of Earth's magnetic field in an animal Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:50 AM PDT Scientists have identified the first sensor of the Earth's magnetic field in an animal, finding in the brain of a tiny worm (C. elegans) a big clue to a long-held mystery about how animals' internal compasses work.

Fructose powers a vicious circle Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:50 AM PDT Researchers have found a hitherto unknown molecular mechanism that is driven by fructose and can lead to cardiac enlargement and heart failure.

Moon engulfed in permanent, lopsided dust cloud Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:50 AM PDT The moon is engulfed in a permanent but lopsided dust cloud that increases in density when annual events like the Geminids spew shooting stars, according to a new study.

Recalling positive memories reverses stress-induced depression Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:47 AM PDT In a remarkable demonstration of the curative power of memory, scientists have established that artificial reactivation of memories stored during a positive experience can suppress the effects of stress-induced depression. The research shows how positive and negative memories interact in mood disorders, and provides a specific brain circuit for future clinical interventions.

Mould unlocks new route to biofuels Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:47 AM PDT An important discovery has been made that forms the basis for the development of new applications in biofuels and the sustainable manufacturing of chemicals. The research offers the possibility of replacing the need for oil in current industrial processes with a greener and more sustainable natural process.

'Broken windows' theory of neighborhood crime too broad to be effective Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:46 AM PDT Traditional signals for opportunities for crime may not be representative of the whole neighborhood, a new study concludes. By understanding how opportunities for crime and criminal behavior exists on a smaller level, residents and police can benefit to better solve issues, rather than try to temporarily stop them, the authors suggest.

Acid-reducing medications sharply raise risk of C. difficile bacteria infection in kids Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:46 AM PDT Infants and children who are given prescription acid-reducing medications face a substantially higher risk of developing Clostridium difficile infection, a potentially severe colonic disorder, a new study concludes.

Weighing yourself daily can tip the scale in your favor Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:46 AM PDT For those wishing to lose weight and keep it off, here's a simple strategy that works: step on a scale each day and track the results. A two-year study found that frequent self-weighing and tracking results on a chart were effective for both losing weight and keeping it off, especially for men.

Astronomers create array of Earth-like planet models Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:46 AM PDT To sort out the biological intricacies of Earth-like planets, astronomers have developed computer models that examine how ultraviolet radiation from other planets' nearby suns may affect those worlds.

Network model for tracking Twitter memes sheds light on information spreading in the brain Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:46 AM PDT An international team of researchers is using data mapping methods created to track the spread of information on social networks to trace its dissemination across a surprisingly different system: the human brain.

Understanding how animals make sense of the auditory world Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:46 AM PDT Sit down with a friend in a quiet restaurant and begin talking, just before the dinner crowd's arrival. Business is slow at first, but picks up quickly, just like the sound level. Discussions are everywhere, colliding and competing with the other noises. Sometimes called the cocktail party effect, the ability to tune out a noisy room to focus on one conversation, or auditory stream segregation, part of the larger field of auditory scene analysis, is apparently universal to all animals and serves as a critical survival mechanism.

Love, factually: Gerontologist finds the formula to a happy marriage Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:46 AM PDT A gerontologist has uncovered common advice for couples walking down the aisle or decades into marriage. To capture the voice of lived experience, the study included a random national survey of nearly 400 Americans age 65 and older, asking how to find a compatible partner and other advice on love and relationships. In subsequent in-person interviews with more than 300 long-wedded individuals -- those in unions of 30, 40, 50, or more years -- the study captured more insights for overcoming common marriage troubles. The team of researchers interviewed divorced individuals, too, asking how others might avoid marital breakups.

400,000-year-old dental tartar provides earliest evidence of humanmade pollution Posted: 17 Jun 2015 09:57 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered evidence of food and potential respiratory irritants entrapped in the dental tartar of 400,000-year-old teeth at Qesem Cave near Tel Aviv, the site of many major discoveries from the late Lower Paleolithic period. The research provides direct evidence of what early Palaeolithic people ate and the quality of the air they breathed inside Qesem Cave.

Medical resources allocated equally across groups, but more efficiently across individuals, study shows Posted: 17 Jun 2015 09:57 AM PDT People make dramatically different decisions about who should receive hypothetical transplant organs depending on whether the potential recipients are presented as individuals or as part of a larger group, according to new research. The findings show that when recipients are considered in groups, people tend to allocate organs equally across the groups, ignoring information about the patients' chances of success.

Research explores national trends in commuting patterns Posted: 17 Jun 2015 09:57 AM PDT A new study examines 25 metro regions over 20 years to see who has the shortest and longest commutes to work. The new analysis also covers commuting to work when the U.S. was affected by unemployment resulting from the recession as well as the housing bubble crisis.

Beating advanced cancers: New epigenomic block for advanced cancer Posted: 17 Jun 2015 08:53 AM PDT An international research team has found a new way to identify and possibly stop the progression of many late-stage cancers, including bladder, blood, bone, brain, lung and kidney.

Individuals with social phobia have too much serotonin -- not too little Posted: 17 Jun 2015 08:53 AM PDT Previous studies have led researchers to believe that individuals with social anxiety disorder or social phobia have too low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. A new study, however, shows that the situation is exactly the opposite. Individuals with social phobia make too much serotonin. The more serotonin they produce, the more anxious they are in social situations.

Breast-conserving therapy for early-stage cancers has increased substantially, though access remains an issue Posted: 17 Jun 2015 08:47 AM PDT The first comprehensive national review of breast-conserving therapy (BCT) shows that over the last 13 years rates of this treatment modality for early-stage breast cancer have increased at a steady pace. However, the review also highlights important demographic factors that impact which patients have access to BCT.

The surprising truths about caregivers Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:45 AM PDT Caregiving is a part of daily life for millions of Americans, particularly the so-called sandwich generation balancing the needs of aging parents with looking after their own children. A new study looks at just who is doing that caregiving, and who they're caring for -- and some of the findings are surprising.

Gene discovery could lead to muscular dystrophy treatment Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:45 AM PDT Researchers have made a critical discovery about a gene involved in muscular dystrophy that could lead to future therapies for the currently untreatable disease. Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a progressive wasting disease that affects the face, arms and shoulders. It is most commonly diagnosed in teenage or early adults, and though it is rarely fatal is it very debilitating.

Vitreomacular adhesion patients report improved vision with non-surgical treatment Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:45 AM PDT In two ancillary studies of two multi-center international clinical trials, the injectable drug ocriplasmin appears to improve vision among patients suffering from symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion (VMA), a condition related to the aging eye that could cause permanent vision loss if left untreated.

Parents' comparisons make siblings different Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:45 AM PDT A new study shows that when parents compare their kids, it shows up in the classroom.

Inkjet inks made of silk could yield smart bandages, bacteria-sensing gloves and more Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:45 AM PDT Researchers created and tested a custom library of inkjet-printable, functional silk inks doped with bioactive components such as antibiotics, enzymes, nanoparticles, and growth factors. The natural silk polymer stabilized the agents over time and enabled printing in varied mechanically robust formats.

Fish offer lessons in effective leadership Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:44 AM PDT Good leaders needing to strike a balance between striving to reach goals and keeping their followers with them has deep evolutionary roots, according to a new study on schooling fish.

Adenosine in Ambrosia pollen increases allergic response Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:44 AM PDT Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) -- an otherwise unremarkable plant -- produces pollen that can trigger strong allergic reactions such as asthma even in very small quantities. Scientists have now published a study showing that the substance previously identified as the major allergen only induces such a vigorous allergic response in combination with the adenosine also present in the pollen.

New taxonomy classifies rare genetic bone disorders by metabolic pathogenesis Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:44 AM PDT Medical researchers have developed a new classification system for rare genetic metabolic bone disorders, classifying them according to their metabolic pathogenesis. Knowledge of the metabolic pathway that characterizes these diseases provides important information that may help doctors select the most appropriate pharmacological treatment in patients affected by these complex diseases.

Rare disorder found to have a common form Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:44 AM PDT A hereditary autoimmune disease that was thought to be exceedingly rare may have a less severe form that affects one in 1,000 people or even more, according to new research. The results of this research suggest that a number of different autoimmune diseases and syndromes may be tied to mutations in a single gene. Among other things, these findings may help provide new means of diagnosing and treating autoimmune disorders.

No benefit in IVF from routinely freezing all embryos before transfer Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:44 AM PDT An IVF technique which freezes all embryos generated in an initial treatment cycle and transfers them in a later cycle as freeze-thawed embryos does not improve outcome as some studies have suggested.

Warning over poor cooking skills among teenagers Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:42 AM PDT Young people lack confidence and skills in the kitchen, with many considering microwaving a pizza to be cooking, according to a study. They are also not worried about their health, believing that exercising will compensate for a poor diet and smoking, the authors note.

Who’s your daddy? If you're a gorilla, it doesn't matter Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:42 AM PDT Being the daddy isn't important for male gorillas when it comes to their relationships with the kids; it's their rank in the group that makes the difference, says new research. Researchers say this supports the theory that for most of their evolution, gorillas lived in groups with one male and several females.

Exercise can help control blood glucose, and trim waist size and body fat in diabetics regardless of fitness gains Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:41 AM PDT Diabetics who exercise can trim waist size and body fat, and control blood glucose, even if they don't see cardiorespiratory benefits, new research shows. Researchers found that waist circumference, percentage of body fat, and hemoglobin A1c levels ? a test of long-term blood sugar ? all improved in diabetic participants who exercised compared to those who did not.

Seeing where stars collide Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:24 AM PDT Using the advanced adaptive optics system GeMS, on the Gemini South telescope, astronomers have imaged a beautiful stellar jewel-box -- a tightly packed cluster of stars that is one of the few places in our galaxy where astronomers think stars can actually collide.

Human cells used to create fully functioning lipid system in mouse model Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:24 AM PDT Researchers say they have now created a new disease model that more than just resembles the human mechanisms; it acts as a fully functioning human lipid system within a mouse to specifically study hypercholesterolemia, a form of high cholesterol caused by a genetic defect.

Tissue 'scaffold' technology could help rebuild large organs Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:24 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new tissue 'scaffold' technology that could one day enable the engineering of large organs. Research has shown that it is possible to combine cells with a special scaffold to produce living tissue in the laboratory. It is hoped this can then be implanted into patients as a way of replacing diseased parts of the body.

Best observational evidence of first generation stars in the universe Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:24 AM PDT Astronomers have discovered the brightest galaxy yet found in the early Universe and found strong evidence that first generation of stars lurk within it. These previously theoretical objects were the creators of the elements necessary to forge the stars around us today, the planets that orbit them, and life as we know it. The newly found galaxy is three times brighter than the brightest distant galaxy known up to now.

Stronger working memory, reduced sexual risk-taking in adolescents Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:24 AM PDT A study of adolescents has found that individual differences in working memory, a function of the brain that helps us make decisions, can predict early sexual risk-taking. The findings suggest potential preventive intervention strategies for parents of teens at risk for engaging in these behaviors.

Early life stress affects cognitive functioning in low-income children Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:24 AM PDT A new study has identified how specific patterns of cortisol activity may relate to the cognitive abilities of children in poverty. The study looked at low-income children in the United States and how greater instability in family environments may predict early life stress and cognitive functioning.

Longer breaks between shifts promote nurses' recovery from work Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:18 AM PDT Reducing short breaks between shifts helps nurses recover from work, according to a new study from Finland. The study analyzed the effects of longer rest and recovery periods between shifts on heart rate variability, which is an indicator of recovery. Shift work can increase the risk of many diseases, for example cardiovascular diseases. The increased risk is partially caused by insufficient recovery from work, which interferes with the normal function of the autonomic nervous system regulating heart function and blood pressure, among other things. Nurses have too little time for rest and recovery especially in the backwards-rotating shift system, which allows less than 11 hours of rest between the night and the morning shift, the authors say.

Age-related inflammatory processes facilitate development of COPD Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:17 AM PDT At present, there is a lack of effective treatments that target the causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Scientists are therefore investigating the molecular causes of COPD in order to intervene specifically. A recently published study is a contribution to understanding the underlying causes of COPD, especially in the elderly population.

Why the Sun's atmosphere is hotter than its surface Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:17 AM PDT How can the temperature of the Sun's atmosphere be as high as 1 million degrees Celsius when its surface temperature is only around 6000°C? By simulating the evolution of part of the Sun's interior and exterior, researchers have identified the mechanisms that provide sufficient energy to heat the solar atmosphere. A layer beneath the Sun's surface, acting as a pan of boiling water, is thought to generate a small-scale magnetic field as an energy reserve which, once it emerges from the star, heats the successive layers of the solar atmosphere via networks of mangrove-like magnetic roots and branches.

How the brain learns to distinguish between what is important and what is not Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:17 AM PDT Traffic lights, neon-lit advertisements, a jungle of road signs: when learning to drive, it is often very difficult to distinguish between important and irrelevant information. How the brain learns the importance of certain images over others is being investigated by researchers. They show that learning the relevance of images considerably modifies neuronal networks in the brain. These changes might help our brain to process and classify the overload of stimuli in our environment more effectively.

Ataxia mouse model: Eye blink conditioning for early diagnosis of human disease SCA6 Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:17 AM PDT Scientists have established a mouse model for the human disease SCA6. SCA6 is characterized by movement deficits and caused by similar genetic alterations as Chorea Huntington. The mouse model will be used to investigate the disease mechanisms. Experiments suggest that an impairment of eye blink conditioning could be an early disease symptom.

Is phthalate alternative really safe? Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:17 AM PDT A commonly used  plasticizer known as DINCH, which is found in products that come into close contact with humans, such as medical devices, children's toys and food packaging, might not be as safe as initially thought. According to a new study, DINCH exerts biological effects on metabolic processes in mammals. The findings may have important implications since DINCH has been promoted by industry has as a safe alternative to phthalate plasticizers, despite there being no publicly available peer-reviewed data on its toxicology.

Data bank launched for global access to ancient DNA Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:16 AM PDT Medical and other researchers and science teachers around the world will be able to compare ancient DNA from humans from thousands of years ago with the genetics of modern day humans, thanks to a new world-first open access databank.

Researchers develop pioneering new method to map enzyme activity Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:15 AM PDT A new discovery could have wide-reaching implications for the creation of manufactured goods, biofuels and therapeutic drugs, investigators report. By labelling certain segments of an enzyme with heavy isotopes, the researchers have found that 'heavy' and 'light' versions of enzymes have different catalytic properties, allowing them to determine which regions are linked to specific functions.

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