ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Shark with lowest-known metabolism is a sluggish success
• The sound of endangered salmon surviving
• How the media influence perceptions of obesity
• Researchers report on new tool to provide even better Landsat images
• Teens are more caring when they feel support from others
• New tool for gauging public opinion reveals skepticism of climate engineering
• Can animals thrive without oxygen?
• New method can assess quality of centers performing colonoscopies
• New model could solve inventory problem for retailers
• For older adults, serious depression symptoms increase risk for stroke and heart disease
• Increase in volcanic eruptions at the end of the ice age caused by melting ice caps and erosion
• Infectious diseases cause significant emergency visits, hospitalizations for older adults
• Uncovering the financial ties of advocates for cancer drug approval
• Most vaccine-related posts on Pinterest are anti-vaccine, reveals research
• Targeting upper motor neurons to treat ALS
• Dominant ant species significantly influence ecosystems
• Insulin-like growth factor linked to hippocampal hyperactivity in Alzheimer's disease
• Study suggests different written languages are equally efficient at conveying meaning
• Land plant became key marine species
• Imagining positive outcomes may bring pleasure now but pain later
• Senior citizens may accept robot helpers, but fear robot masters
• Heart attack: Gender matters in predicting outcomes
• Study links irregular sleep schedules to adverse metabolic health in women
• Piecing together the cells elevator-like mechanism for sodium
• New MRI technique offers faster diagnosis of multiple sclerosis
• Two thirds of cattle attacks on people involve dogs, new study finds
• Delivering genes across the blood-brain barrier
• Curing disease by repairing faulty genes
• Abnormal gene is a triple threat in driving pediatric brain tumors
• New technique to find copper deposits
• World is embracing clean energy, says expert
• Greater weight loss during aging associated with increased risk for mild cognitive impairment
• Viral gene editing system corrects genetic liver disease in newborn mice
• No link found between subcortical brain volumes, genetic risk for schizophrenia
• Genetic cause identified in rare pediatric brain tumor
• Blood pressure medicine improves conversational skills of individuals with autism
• Study documents drought's impact on redwood forest ferns
• How does your garden grow? Traditional planting of fruit trees promotes animal diversity in the Malaysian rainforest
• High-tech river studies reveal benefits of habitat restoration for fish
• Study strengthens evidence linking autism to maternal obesity-diabetes
• Major storm events play key role in biogeochemistry of watersheds
• Switching light with a silver atom
• Basic science disappearing from medical journals
• Better catalysts for heavy oil extraction
• Exact formula now available for measuring scientific success
• Competition between mothers starts in the womb, new study suggests
• Lung health study helps determine to prevalance of lung disease in adults in Malawi
• Physical parameters matter in terms of cancer cells' metastatic ability
• When food alters gene function
• Bright sparks shed new light on the dark matter riddle
• Appalachia continues to have higher cancer rates than the rest of US, but gap is narrowing
• 'BPA-free' plastic accelerates embryonic development, disrupts reproductive system
• Mechanical 'trees' swaying in the wind: Turning good vibrations into energy
• Emerald and gold: Two new precious-eyed endemic tree frog species from Taiwan
• Global plant conservation's phase one: The world checklist of hornworts and liverworts
• New type of nanowires, built with natural gas heating
• More efficient DNA technology for targeted disease detection, treatment
• Vaginal microbes can be partially restored to c-section babies
• Olfactory receptors in the blood respond to Sandalore
• Small birds prefer flying in company

Shark with lowest-known metabolism is a sluggish success Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:03 PM PST Laziness can help you succeed… if you're a nurse shark. A new research paper reveals that nurse sharks have the lowest metabolic rate measured in any shark — new evidence of the sluggish lifestyle that has helped the species survive for millennia.

The sound of endangered salmon surviving Posted: 01 Feb 2016 11:22 AM PST With California in the fourth year of a historic drought, there is much controversy over how to supply cities, farms, and ecosystems with the water they need. Technology may help solve the puzzle.

How the media influence perceptions of obesity Posted: 01 Feb 2016 11:19 AM PST New work on how news media coverage shapes perceptions of obesity, has been published by investigators. They examined how perspectives on obesity portrayed in news articles affect people's support for different obesity-related public policies and their prejudice towards fat men and women.

Researchers report on new tool to provide even better Landsat images Posted: 01 Feb 2016 11:19 AM PST A team of investigators describes a new imaging spectrometer design that could enable improved images from NASA's Landsat, for better understanding of phenomena, and environments as diverse as coral reefs, urbanization, tropical deforestation, and glaciers.

Teens are more caring when they feel support from others Posted: 01 Feb 2016 11:19 AM PST Caring for others dips during adolescence. But when young people feel supported from their social circles, their concern for others rebound, a new study concludes.

New tool for gauging public opinion reveals skepticism of climate engineering Posted: 01 Feb 2016 11:19 AM PST Members of the public find the risks of climate engineering technology more likely than any of the benefits, according to an article. Such research is crucial because even if the goal of reducing global temperatures by two degrees Celsius is achieved, it will not halt the impacts of global climate change, including sea-level rise, shifts in rainfall, and extreme weather events. Given this context, a growing number of scientists are advocating for climate engineering technologies, also referred to as "geoengineering."

Can animals thrive without oxygen? Posted: 01 Feb 2016 11:19 AM PST In 2010, a research team garnered attention when it published evidence of finding the first animals living in permanently anoxic conditions at the bottom of the sea. But a new study raises doubts.

New method can assess quality of centers performing colonoscopies Posted: 01 Feb 2016 11:19 AM PST Colonoscopies are now a routine preventive diagnostic test for millions each year. While rates are low, complications like perforation, bleeding, and anesthesia-related heart failure can occur. Researchers have now developed a quality measure that uses follow-up hospital visits to track the variation in colonoscopy quality among outpatient facilities.

New model could solve inventory problem for retailers Posted: 01 Feb 2016 11:19 AM PST Inventory management has been the focus of three researchers for more than 10 years, Their latest study developed a new mathematical model to apply to inventory problems.

For older adults, serious depression symptoms increase risk for stroke and heart disease Posted: 01 Feb 2016 11:17 AM PST Adults 65-years-old and older who had high levels of depressive symptoms had a greater risk for experiencing heart disease or stroke events over the 10 years of a study, scientists report. As a result, the researchers concluded that depression could be a risk factor for heart disease or stroke.

Increase in volcanic eruptions at the end of the ice age caused by melting ice caps and erosion Posted: 01 Feb 2016 11:17 AM PST Researchers have found that glacial erosion and melting ice caps both played a key role in driving the observed global increase in volcanic activity at the end of the last ice age.

Infectious diseases cause significant emergency visits, hospitalizations for older adults Posted: 01 Feb 2016 11:17 AM PST In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers calculated that infectious diseases account for 13.5 percent of emergency room (ER) visits involving older adults -- a higher percentage than ER visits for heart attacks and congestive heart failure combined. Infectious diseases are those that can be passed from person-to-person and caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites.

Uncovering the financial ties of advocates for cancer drug approval Posted: 01 Feb 2016 10:09 AM PST Speakers who nominally represent cancer patients at advisory meetings on new drugs often have financial ties with the company seeking marketing approval. And those ties aren't always disclosed, according to an analysis.

Most vaccine-related posts on Pinterest are anti-vaccine, reveals research Posted: 01 Feb 2016 10:09 AM PST 75 percent of the vaccine-related posts on Pinterest are negative towards vaccination, according to new research.

Targeting upper motor neurons to treat ALS Posted: 01 Feb 2016 10:09 AM PST Scientists have demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to specifically modify gene expression in diseased upper motor neurons, brain cells that break down in ALS. The study provides evidence that lays a foundation for developing future gene replacement therapies to treat patients with the fatal neuromuscular disorder.

Dominant ant species significantly influence ecosystems Posted: 01 Feb 2016 10:09 AM PST Researchers investigated the role of different ant species in various ecosystem processes in tropical rain forests. They discovered that the dominant role is often played by only a few or even a single ant species when it comes to consuming food resources, something that can make an ecosystem vulnerable.

Insulin-like growth factor linked to hippocampal hyperactivity in Alzheimer's disease Posted: 01 Feb 2016 10:08 AM PST The insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), the 'master' lifespan regulator, plays a vital role in directly regulating hippocampal hyperactivity in the brain, report scientists. The researchers hope their findings can be used to indicate a new direction for therapy used to treat patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Study suggests different written languages are equally efficient at conveying meaning Posted: 01 Feb 2016 10:08 AM PST A study has found there is no difference in the time it takes people from different countries to read and process different languages.

Land plant became key marine species Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:55 AM PST The genome of eelgrass (Zostera marina) has now been unveiled. It turns out that the plant, once land-living but now only found in the marine environment, has lost the genes required to survive out of the water.

Imagining positive outcomes may bring pleasure now but pain later Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:55 AM PST Positive fantasies about how future events will turn out can boost your mood in the here and now, but they may actually lead to increased depressive symptoms in the long run, according to new research.

Senior citizens may accept robot helpers, but fear robot masters Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:55 AM PST Senior citizens would likely accept robots as helpers and entertainment providers, but are leery of giving up too much control to the machines, according to researchers.

Heart attack: Gender matters in predicting outcomes Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:55 AM PST Sex (biological and physiological characteristics) differences are increasingly being studied to assess symptoms, risk factors and outcomes for various diseases. Now, a new pan-Canadian study suggests that gender rather than sex is associated with the risk of recurrence of cardiovascular events in adults. Gender, the researchers explain, refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, expressions and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and gender diverse people.

Study links irregular sleep schedules to adverse metabolic health in women Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:55 AM PST Frequent shifts in sleep timing may be related to adverse metabolic health among non-shift working, midlife women, new research shows. Results show that greater variability in bedtime and greater bedtime delay were associated with higher insulin resistance, and greater bedtime advance was associated with higher body mass index (BMI).

Piecing together the cells elevator-like mechanism for sodium Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:55 AM PST Researchers have pieced together how sodium is transported into and out of our cells. This could be a potential benefit for the development of novel treatments against some forms of cancer and hypertension.

New MRI technique offers faster diagnosis of multiple sclerosis Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:55 AM PST A new way of using MRI scanners to look for evidence of multiple sclerosis in the brain has been successfully tested by researchers. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is notoriously difficult to diagnose as it has many symptoms but not all sufferers experience all of them and the disease can progress at different rates. MRI scans have been used as a diagnostic tool to detect white matter lesions in the brain but these are not always an indicator of the disease.

Two thirds of cattle attacks on people involve dogs, new study finds Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:47 AM PST Dog owners are being urged to remember to be vigilant with their pets when walking near cows in the countryside, following a new review into cattle attacks. This project reviewed details of negative interactions between the public and cattle, to identify risk factors for cattle attacks, and highlight the availability and usefulness of guidance on walking among livestock.

Delivering genes across the blood-brain barrier Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:47 AM PST Biologists have modified a harmless virus in such a way that it can successfully enter the adult mouse brain through the bloodstream and deliver genes to cells of the nervous system. The virus could help researchers map the intricacies of the brain and holds promise for the delivery of novel therapeutics to address diseases such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's.

Curing disease by repairing faulty genes Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:47 AM PST The genome-editing technique known as CRISPR allows scientists to clip a specific DNA sequence and replace it with a new one, offering the potential to cure diseases caused by defective genes. For this potential to be realized, however, scientists must find a way to safely deliver the CRISPR machinery and a corrected copy of the DNA into the diseased cells. A new study shows that this delivery method boosts efficiency of the CRISPR genome-editing system, researchers have found.

Abnormal gene is a triple threat in driving pediatric brain tumors Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:47 AM PST An abnormal fused gene that drives pediatric brain tumors poses a triple threat, operating simultaneously through three distinct biological mechanisms -- the first such example in cancer biology. This finding potentially offers triple benefits as well -- more accurate diagnoses, clues for more effective treatments and new insights into molecular processes underlying other types of cancer.

New technique to find copper deposits Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:30 AM PST A new and relatively inexpensive way to establish whether certain types of magmatic rocks are more likely to contain valuable metal deposits has been developed by a team of scientists.

World is embracing clean energy, says expert Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:30 AM PST An expert argues that investment in renewable electricity now outstrips that in fossil fuels, and that increasing numbers of policies to improve the efficiency of energy use and to make energy systems more flexible are pointing to a global momentum in the adoption of sustainable energy systems.

Greater weight loss during aging associated with increased risk for mild cognitive impairment Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:30 AM PST Increasing weight loss per decade as people age from midlife to late life was associated with an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to a new article.

Viral gene editing system corrects genetic liver disease in newborn mice Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:28 AM PST For the first time, researchers have treated an animal model of a genetic disorder using a viral vector to deliver genome-editing components in which the disease- causing mutation has been corrected. Delivery of the vector to newborn mice improved their survival while treatment of adult animals, unexpectedly, made them worse.

No link found between subcortical brain volumes, genetic risk for schizophrenia Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:28 AM PST A new study evaluated the relationship between common genetic variants implicated in schizophrenia and those associated with subcortical brain volumes, and found no evidence of genetic overlap between schizophrenia risk and subcortical volume measures.

Genetic cause identified in rare pediatric brain tumor Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:28 AM PST Researchers found a way of differentiating angiocentric gliomas from other low-grade pediatric brain tumors and developed a pathological test that will help children avoid unnecessary and potentially damaging additional therapies.

Blood pressure medicine improves conversational skills of individuals with autism Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:28 AM PST An estimated one in 68 children in the United States has autism. The neurodevelopmental disorder, which impairs communication and social interaction skills, can be treated with medications and behavioral therapies, though there is no cure. Now, researchers have found that a medication commonly used to treat high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats may have the potential to improve some social functions of individuals with autism.

Study documents drought's impact on redwood forest ferns Posted: 01 Feb 2016 09:28 AM PST The native ferns that form a lush green understory in coastal redwood forests are well adapted to dry summers and periodic droughts, but California's current prolonged drought has taken a toll on them. A comprehensive study of water relations in native ferns, conducted during one of the worst droughts in California's recent history, shows that extreme conditions have tested the limits of drought tolerance in these plants.

How does your garden grow? Traditional planting of fruit trees promotes animal diversity in the Malaysian rainforest Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:41 AM PST Traditional fruit gardens planted by indigenous communities in the Malaysian rainforest increase the diversity of the animals who make it their home, research has found.

High-tech river studies reveal benefits of habitat restoration for fish Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:40 AM PST An emerging research method to gauge the benefits of stream restoration for salmon and other native fish is revealing improvements in fish numbers, survival and reproduction in key rivers across the Pacific Northwest, according to a new research paper describing the approach, known as intensively monitored watersheds.

Study strengthens evidence linking autism to maternal obesity-diabetes Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:40 AM PST Scientists show they can use electronic medical records and birth information to verify and strengthen an already suspected link between autistic children and pregnant mothers with obesity and diabetes.

Major storm events play key role in biogeochemistry of watersheds Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:39 AM PST Heavy weather events cause an inordinate amount of organic material to bypass headwater systems, say researchers, pushing them downstream into larger rivers and coastal waters and inland basins -- with profound implications for water quality through the watershed.

Switching light with a silver atom Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:39 AM PST Researchers have created the world's smallest integrated optical switch. Applying a small voltage causes an atom to relocate, turning the switch on or off.

Basic science disappearing from medical journals Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:39 AM PST A new study has found a steep decline in the number of scholarly papers about basic science published in leading medical journals in the last 20 years.

Better catalysts for heavy oil extraction Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:39 AM PST Newly catalysts speed up heavy oil extraction under the conditions of in-situ combustion.

Exact formula now available for measuring scientific success Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:39 AM PST Scientometrics research is the science of evaluating scientific performance. Physics methods designed to predict growth based on a scale-free network have rarely been applied to this field. Now, scientists have developed an analytical method using a previously developed agent-based model to predict the h-index, probably the most popular citation-based scientific measurement, using bibliometric data.

Competition between mothers starts in the womb, new study suggests Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:39 AM PST Female mammals, including humans, may try to outcompete one another by producing bigger babies, ground-breaking research has suggested. A 13-year-long study, the first of its kind to use ultrasound, found that female mongooses respond to reproductive competition by producing bigger pups.

Lung health study helps determine to prevalance of lung disease in adults in Malawi Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:35 AM PST A lung health study has helped to determine the prevalence of lung disease among adults in Malawi. The work highlights the extent to which people living in Malawi are exposed to smoke from household burning of biomass (crop residues, wood, charcoal) for their day-to-day cooking needs. Around the world four million people die every year as a result of inhalation of this smoke which increases the risk of heart and lung diseases.

Physical parameters matter in terms of cancer cells' metastatic ability Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:35 AM PST The micro-environment surrounding cancer cells is just as important as genes in regulating tumor progression. Scientists have therefore examined the biophysical and biochemical cues occurring in the vicinity of cancer cells. This represents a departure from the traditional measurement of secreted molecules, called biomarkers.

When food alters gene function Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:35 AM PST The maternal diet influences fat and glucose metabolism of offspring through epigenetic alterations, new research shows. As the study shows, a high-fat diet during pregnancy and lactation leads to epigenetic changes in the offspring.

Bright sparks shed new light on the dark matter riddle Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:35 AM PST The origin of matter in the universe has puzzled physicists for generations. Today, we know that matter only accounts for 5 percent of our universe; another 25 percent is constituted of dark matter. And the remaining 70 percent is made up of dark energy. Dark matter itself represents an unsolved riddle.

Appalachia continues to have higher cancer rates than the rest of US, but gap is narrowing Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:35 AM PST Men and women in Appalachia continue to have higher cancer incidence rates compared with those in the rest of the United States regardless of race or location. The disparity is attributed in part to high tobacco use, potential differences in socioeconomic status, and patient health care utilization.

'BPA-free' plastic accelerates embryonic development, disrupts reproductive system Posted: 01 Feb 2016 07:35 AM PST Companies advertise 'BPA-free' as a safer version of plastic products ranging from water bottles to sippy cups to toys. Yet a new study demonstrates that BPS, a common replacement for BPA, speeds up embryonic development and disrupts the reproductive system. The research is the first to examine the effects of BPA and BPS on key brain cells and genes that control organs involved in reproduction.

Mechanical 'trees' swaying in the wind: Turning good vibrations into energy Posted: 01 Feb 2016 06:27 AM PST A project is testing whether high-tech objects that look a bit like artificial trees can generate renewable power when they are shaken by the wind -- or by the sway of a tall building, traffic on a bridge or even seismic activity.

Emerald and gold: Two new precious-eyed endemic tree frog species from Taiwan Posted: 01 Feb 2016 06:25 AM PST Two endemic tree frog species, not recognized by science until now, have been identified in broadleaf forests in the island country of Taiwan. Unlike their siblings from mainland China and Southern Asia, they demonstrate reproductive behavior, characterized with egg-eating tadpole embryos feeding on eggs, while still inside the mother's womb. What told them apart initially, however, were their gemstone-colored eyes.

Global plant conservation's phase one: The world checklist of hornworts and liverworts Posted: 01 Feb 2016 06:25 AM PST Although Charles Darwin himself voiced his intention to compile a complete catalog of all known plant species more than a century ago, such is yet to be realized. However, an international research team now present the first ever worldwide checklist of hornworts and liverworts, prepared as a part of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation aiming to list the whole plant kingdom by 2020.

New type of nanowires, built with natural gas heating Posted: 01 Feb 2016 05:57 AM PST A new simple, cost-effective approach that may open up an effective way to make other metallic/semiconducting nanomaterials. According to the research team, this method is simple, reproducible, size-controllable, and cost-effective in that lithium-ion batteries could also benefit from it.

More efficient DNA technology for targeted disease detection, treatment Posted: 01 Feb 2016 05:56 AM PST A more efficient DNA technology to detect and treat infectious diseases and cancer has been developed by researchers.

Vaginal microbes can be partially restored to c-section babies Posted: 01 Feb 2016 05:53 AM PST A simple swab to transfer vaginal microbes from a mother to her C-section-delivered newborn can alter the baby's microbial makeup (microbiome) in a way that more closely resembles the microbiome of a vaginally delivered baby, a small pilot study has demonstrated.

Olfactory receptors in the blood respond to Sandalore Posted: 01 Feb 2016 05:50 AM PST Human blood cells have olfactory receptors that respond to Sandalore. This could provide a starting point for new leukemia therapies, as researchers report.

Small birds prefer flying in company Posted: 01 Feb 2016 05:50 AM PST Until now, scientists had observed that some large birds are sociable among each other. However, a new study has confirmed that this unique characteristic can also be seen among smaller birds such as the Eurasian siskin, a bird which is able to form bonds that last for a number of years as well as travel long distances in the company of these birds. This intimacy may favor reproduction in addition to facilitating the process of adjusting to a new place.

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