Monday, February 1, 2016

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Enigma of coexistence of people with Rh+ and Rh- blood groups solved

Posted: 31 Jan 2016 06:22 AM PST

A new study showed that incidence and morbidity of many diseases and disorders correlate negatively with frequencies of Rh+ heterozygotes (i.e. the carriers of one copy of the gene for Rh positivity and one copy of the gene for Rh negativity) in the population of individual countries. At the same time, the disease burden associated with the same disorders correlated positively with frequency of Rh negative subjects in individual countries. Together with the observed worse health status and higher incidence of many disorders in Rh negative subjects published by the same research team last autumn, this result probably solved 80 years old enigma of coexistence of carriers of two variants of Rhesus gene in the same population. 

New elements recently added to periodic table

Posted: 30 Jan 2016 03:24 PM PST

A physicist lays claim to being instrumental in the discovery of four new super-heavy chemical elements—atomic numbers 113, 115, 117, and 118—recently added to the periodic table.

Tiniest particles shrink before exploding when hit with x-ray laser

Posted: 30 Jan 2016 03:24 PM PST

Researchers assumed that tiny objects would instantly blow up when hit by extremely intense light from the world's most powerful X-ray laser. But to their astonishment, these nanoparticles initially shrank instead – a finding that provides a glimpse of the unusual world of superheated nanomaterials that could eventually also help scientists further develop X-ray techniques for taking atomic images of individual molecules.

Job growth, consumer spending to boost state and national economies

Posted: 30 Jan 2016 03:24 PM PST

Job growth and consumer spending continue to grow and position Tennessee and the nation's economies for a strong 2016, according to a new report.

Biologists develop method for antibiotic susceptibility testing

Posted: 30 Jan 2016 03:23 PM PST

A team of biologists and biomedical researchers has developed a new method to determine if bacteria are susceptible to antibiotics within a few hours, an advance that could slow the appearance of drug resistance and allow doctors to more rapidly identify the appropriate treatment for patients with life threatening bacterial infections.

Shallow flooding reduces a major rice pest, researchers find

Posted: 30 Jan 2016 03:23 PM PST

Shallow flooding of rice fields can help reduce rice water weevil populations during Florida's growing season, between April and September, new research shows. Previous studies of the effect of flood depth on the pest have been inconsistent.

Phase of the moon affects amount of rainfall

Posted: 30 Jan 2016 03:21 PM PST

Satellite data shows that the moon's gravity puts a slight damper on rainfall on Earth.

Nanosheet growth technique could revolutionize nanomaterial production

Posted: 30 Jan 2016 03:21 PM PST

Materials scientists believe the tiny sheets of the semiconductor zinc oxide they're growing could have huge implications for the future of a host of electronic and biomedical devices.

Oncologists issue guidance for allocating scarce chemotherapy drugs

Posted: 30 Jan 2016 03:21 PM PST

Claiming that clinicians lack formal and concrete allocation guidance when faced with a critical drug shortage, experts in pediatric oncology and bioethics have issued a framework to avoid waste and guide difficult prioritization decisions among children in need of scarce life-saving chemotherapy treatment.

Proton beam therapy offers potential to treat childhood brain cancer with fewer severe side effects than conventional radiotherapy

Posted: 30 Jan 2016 03:21 PM PST

Proton beam therapy -- a more precise form of radiotherapy -- to treat the childhood brain cancer medulloblastoma appears to be as safe as conventional radiotherapy with similar survival rates, according to new research. Importantly, the findings suggest that proton radiotherapy may not be as toxic to the rest of a child's body as conventional radiotherapy.

Media narratives counter prejudice attitudes

Posted: 30 Jan 2016 03:20 PM PST

Research from several personality and social psychologists show that entertainment media with positive content or conciliatory messages can contribute to positive relationships between members of different ethnic groups and genders.

New type of nanowires, built with natural gas heating

Posted: 30 Jan 2016 03:20 PM PST

A new simple, cost-effective approach that may open up an effective way to make other metallic/semiconducting nanomaterials.

Proteins most associated with aging revealed in study

Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:13 PM PST

When people turn about 80 years of age, approximately half of the body's proteins are damaged by oxidation. Oxidation occurs because of random chemical degradations that are associated with converting food to energy in the presence of oxygen. Certain proteins known to be associated with aging and age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and cancer are also at a high risk for destabilization caused by oxidation.

Awareness of aspirin's benefits saves lives

Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:10 PM PST

A new study has found that the University of Minnesota's "Ask About Aspirin" initiative, a statewide public health campaign, is likely a beneficial and cost-effective way to reduce the incidence of a first heart attack or stroke.

Novel calibration tool will help astronomers look for habitable exoplanets

Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:10 PM PST

Promising new calibration tools, called laser frequency combs, could allow astronomers to take a major step in discovering and characterizing earthlike planets around other stars. These devices generate evenly spaced lines of light, much like the teeth on a comb for styling hair or the tick marks on a ruler--hence their nickname of "optical rulers."

Future for charismatic pika not as daunting as once feared

Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:05 PM PST

The American pika is thought by many biologists to be a prime candidate for extirpation as the planet continues to warm. But a new study paints a different, more complex future for this rock-dwelling little lagomorph. Pikas may survive, even thrive, in some areas, the researchers say, while facing extirpation in others. The research is important because pikas are considered a sentinel species for climate change impacts.

Cornell researchers create first self-assembled superconductor

Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:04 PM PST

Building on nearly two decades' worth of research, a multidisciplinary team at Cornell has blazed a new trail by creating a self-assembled, three-dimensional gyroidal superconductor.

Lasting impressions: Psychologists discover what influences our food choices

Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:04 PM PST

With Americans tipping the scales more than ever, social and personality psychologists are at the forefront of understanding the psychological motivations for healthy food choices and consumption patterns.

First impressions: When the mating market resembles a super market

Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:04 PM PST

Two things people always need in life: food and love. According to psychologists, understanding the forces that drive both our hunger and our desire could help us eat healthier and have more satisfying relationships.

Recent studies show value of technology, in-person communications

Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:04 PM PST

Across four different research groups in the United States and Canada, findings from personality and social psychologists suggest that text messaging and social media can have emotional and psychological benefits. However, these benefits often fail to match those of in-person social interactions. As our society increasingly relies on digital forms of social interaction, there may be costs as well as benefits to the quality of our relationships and our emotional health.

Icy ebb and flow influenced by hydrothermal activity

Posted: 29 Jan 2016 10:43 AM PST

Hydrothermal activity along the mid-ocean ridge system suggests that the release of molten rock, or magma, in response to changes in sea level plays a significant role in the earth's climate.

Bile acid supports the production of blood stem cells

Posted: 29 Jan 2016 06:07 AM PST

Bile acid is transferred from the mother to the fetus via the placenta to enable the fetus to produce blood stem cells, new research shows. Bile acids are normally found in adults, to help digest food. However, in studies of pregnant mice, researchers found large amounts of bile acids also inside the fetus.

How do mushrooms contribute to global warming?

Posted: 29 Jan 2016 06:07 AM PST

Global warming is increasing with each day that passes and the poles begin to thaw. New research shows that fungi in Alaska begin to adapt to high temperatures, speeding up their metabolism, growing and reproducing at a faster pace.
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