ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• New material developed for accelerated skin regeneration in major wounds
• Hubble Sees the Force Awakening in a Newborn Star
• NuSTAR finds cosmic clumpy doughnut around black hole
• Brain’s GPS depends on visual landmarks to triangulate location, researchers find
• Scientists manipulate consciousness in rats
• Rare full moon on Christmas Day
• Spread of algal toxin through marine food web broke records in 2015
• Multiple myeloma drug could revolutionize treatment for sickle cell disease
• Ancient Egyptians described Algol's eclipses
• Scientists create atomically thin boron
• Gene found in fruit flies explains how one species evolved into two
• A step towards quantum electronics
• How anti-evolution bills evolve
• Using network science to help pinpoint source of seizures
• Wax shield let seeds conquer Earth
• 'Red Deer Cave people' bone points to mysterious species of pre-modern human
• New genes associated with extreme longevity identified
• Phytoplankton like it hot: Warming boosts biodiversity and photosynthesis in phytoplankton
• A gene for new species is discovered
• Minorities less likely to trust physicians, research reveals
• First praying mantis survey of Rwanda uncovers rich diversity
• Gains in health insurance across Texas fall behind rest of US, new report shows
• Scientists identify mechanisms to reduce epileptic seizures following TBI
• Safety net fails grandmother caregivers living in severe poverty
• Exceptional care requires patient-driven education
• Cancer: Pinpoint targeting instead of shotgun approach, say experts
• Nonoperative treatment of appendicitis may have unknown long-term risks and costs
• Identification tags define neural circuits
• New model more accurately tracks gases for underground nuclear explosion detection
• Scientists predict activity of human genes
• A brain link to autism
• Burgess Shale fossil site gives up oldest evidence of brood care
• First flu exposure imprints itself on immune system
• Drugging the microbiome may treat heart disease
• Probing the mystery of how cancer cells die
• Pancreas cancer liquid biopsy flows from blood-borne packets of tumor genes
• Early warning system to save species
• Nursing study examines obesity in relation to breast cancer related lymphedema
• New insights into molecular basis of memory
• Fungi may help drought-stressed wheat
• Immuno, targeted therapy provide new options for difficult-to-treat head and neck cancer
• Growing crops on organic soils increases greenhouse gas emissions, say scientists
• Younger age associated with increased likelihood of targetable genotype in lung cancer
• When cancer of unknown origin strikes, patient's family members face increased risk
• 'Smart fat cells' cross blood-brain barrier to catch early brain tumors
• Gerontologist offers suggestions for families coping with dementia
• Brain networks under attack
• Men also recommend getting help for depression
• High fat/low carb diet could combat schizophrenia
• New technique both enhances oil recovery, sequesters carbon dioxide
• Multiple-dose, targeted radiation more effective for treating pituitary tumors, research shows
• Their enemy's sex pheromone helps flies protect their offspring
• Binge drinking with chronic alcohol use more destructive than previously thought
• Bone drug protects stem cells from aging
• New research to help unlock the potential of mass digitization in the museum sector
• Carbon emissions from Indonesian peat fires vary considerably based on fire type, research shows
• New process provides renewable fuel
• New test for cancer, diabetes biomarkers 1000x more detailed
• New research offers reassurance over multiple artery procedures for heart attack victims
• New resource to help manage the invasive spotted lanternfly

New material developed for accelerated skin regeneration in major wounds Posted: 17 Dec 2015 01:56 PM PST Researchers have developed a synthetic biomaterial that fills wounds and aids in regeneration of skin cells, which ultimately improves wound healing.

Hubble Sees the Force Awakening in a Newborn Star Posted: 17 Dec 2015 01:09 PM PST Just in time for the release of the movie "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens," NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has photographed what looks like a cosmic, double-bladed lightsaber.

NuSTAR finds cosmic clumpy doughnut around black hole Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:43 PM PST The most massive black holes in the universe are often encircled by thick, doughnut-shaped disks of gas and dust. This deep-space doughnut material ultimately feeds and nourishes the growing black holes tucked inside.

Brain’s GPS depends on visual landmarks to triangulate location, researchers find Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:18 PM PST Researchers have found that space-mapping neurons -- the GPS system in the brain -- have a strong dependence on what is being looked at when triangulating location, a finding that resolves a neurological mystery that has vexed scientists for more than four decades.

Scientists manipulate consciousness in rats Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:17 PM PST Scientists showed that they could alter brain activity of rats and either wake them up or put them in an unconscious state by changing the firing rates of neurons in the central thalamus, a region known to regulate arousal.

Rare full moon on Christmas Day Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:17 PM PST Not since 1977 has a full moon dawned in the skies on Christmas. But this year, a bright full moon will be an added gift for the holidays. December's full moon, the last of the year, is called the Full Cold Moon because it occurs during the beginning of winter. The moon's peak this year will occur at 6:11 a.m. EST.

Spread of algal toxin through marine food web broke records in 2015 Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:16 PM PST Researchers monitoring the unprecedented bloom of toxic algae along the west coast of North America in 2015 found record levels of the algal toxin domoic acid in samples from a wide range of marine organisms. The toxin was also detected for the first time in the muscle tissue or filet of several commercial fish species.

Multiple myeloma drug could revolutionize treatment for sickle cell disease Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:16 PM PST An established drug for recurrent multiple myeloma might effectively be repurposed to improve the survival and day-to-day lives of patients with devastating sickle cell disease, according to new research.

Ancient Egyptians described Algol's eclipses Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:16 PM PST The Ancient Egyptian papyrus Cairo 86637 calendar is the oldest preserved historical document of naked eye observations of a variable star, the eclipsing binary Algol -- a manifestation of Horus, a god and a king. This calendar contains lucky or unlucky prognoses for each day of one year. Researchers have performed a statistical analysis of the Cairo Calendar mythological texts.

Scientists create atomically thin boron Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:16 PM PST A team of scientists has, for the first time, created a two-dimensional sheet of boron -- a material known as borophene. It is an unusual material because it shows many metallic properties at the nanoscale even though three-dimensional, or bulk, boron is nonmetallic and semiconducting. No bulk form of elemental boron has this metal-like behavior. Borophene, both metallic and atomically thin, holds promise for possible applications ranging from electronics to photovoltaics.

Gene found in fruit flies explains how one species evolved into two Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:16 PM PST Evolutionary biologists may have solved a century-old evolutionary riddle: How did two related fruit fly species arise from one?

A step towards quantum electronics Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:16 PM PST Physicists have connected two materials with unusual quantum-mechanical properties through a quantum constriction. Their work could open up a novel path towards both a deeper understanding of physics and future electronic devices.

How anti-evolution bills evolve Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:16 PM PST An evolutionary biologist has analyzed political opposition to evolution and found it has evolved. The researcher analyzed the text in anti-evolution legislation using software for building genetic family trees.

Using network science to help pinpoint source of seizures Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:16 PM PST The ability to reliably pinpoint the anatomical source of epileptic seizures, different for each patient, remains elusive. New research looks at networks of electrical activity in the brain just prior to the onset of a seizure by studying the recordings of 88 seizures from 22 patients.

Wax shield let seeds conquer Earth Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:15 PM PST Having emerged late during evolution, seeds have transformed many plants into miniature travelers, contributing greatly to their colonization of terrestrial habitats. Researchers have just discovered one of the keys to this success: the cuticle. Present as a thick waxy layer in the seed coat and composed of cutin, the cuticle increases seeds' viability, their resistance to reactive oxygen species, and contributes to maintaining their dormant state.

'Red Deer Cave people' bone points to mysterious species of pre-modern human Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:15 PM PST A thigh bone found in China suggests an ancient species of human thought to be long extinct may have survived until as recently as the end of the last Ice Age. The 14,000 year old bone -- found among the remains of China's enigmatic 'Red Deer Cave people' -- has been shown to have features that resemble those of some of the most ancient members of the human genus, Homo, despite its young age.

New genes associated with extreme longevity identified Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:15 PM PST Centenarians show successful aging as they remain active and alert at very old ages. Scientists have begun to unravel the basis for longevity by finding genetic loci associated with extreme longevity. A new study uses a new statistical method (termed 'informed GWAS') to identify five longevity loci that provide clues about physiological mechanisms for successful aging.

Phytoplankton like it hot: Warming boosts biodiversity and photosynthesis in phytoplankton Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:15 PM PST Globally, phytoplankton -- microscopic water-borne plants -- absorb as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests, and so understanding the way they respond to a warming climate is crucial.

A gene for new species is discovered Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:37 AM PST A new study has identified a long-sought "hybrid inviability gene" responsible for dead or infertile offspring when two species of fruit flies mate with each other. The discovery sheds light on the genetic and molecular process leading to formation of new species, and may provide clues to how cancer develops.

Minorities less likely to trust physicians, research reveals Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:35 AM PST Minority groups such as African-Americans and Latinos are less likely than whites to believe their physicians care about them, new research reveals. The survey cohort consists of 2,800 people 18 and older in the contiguous United States who do not live in institutional settings like jails or mental asylums. In cities across the country, interviewers went door to door asking for volunteers. About seven out of every 10 people agreed to the hour-and-a-half interview.

First praying mantis survey of Rwanda uncovers rich diversity Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:35 AM PST The first formal survey of praying mantises in Rwanda has revealed a 155 percent increase in praying mantis species diversity for the African country.

Gains in health insurance across Texas fall behind rest of US, new report shows Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:35 AM PST The rate of adults without health insurance across the US dropped nearly twice as much as in Texas from 2013 to 2015, according to a new report. The report found that since enrollment began in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in September 2013, the adult uninsured rate in the U.S. fell by 41 percent. Researchers found Texas' uninsured rate dropped just 21 percent during the same time.

Scientists identify mechanisms to reduce epileptic seizures following TBI Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:35 AM PST Halting production of new neurons in the brain following traumatic brain injury can help reduce resulting epileptic seizures, cognitive decline, and impaired memory, researchers report.

Safety net fails grandmother caregivers living in severe poverty Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:35 AM PST The number of grandmothers raising their grandchildren spiked during the Great Recession, but those living in poverty often struggle with a public assistance system not designed to meet their unique needs.

Exceptional care requires patient-driven education Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:35 AM PST When it comes to quality communication, meeting the needs of all health-literacy levels requires creative thinking, new research confirms.

Cancer: Pinpoint targeting instead of shotgun approach, say experts Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:33 AM PST Integrins help cells communicate with and adapt to their environment. Also cancer cells depend on their properties to survive and spread throughout the body. Now scientists have successfully developed a small, highly active molecule that binds to a specific integrin that operates in many types of cancer. In the future it may allow patient-specific diagnoses and subsequent targeted treatment of tumor cells.

Nonoperative treatment of appendicitis may have unknown long-term risks and costs Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:33 AM PST It is too early to change the standard treatment of appendicitis in US adults to initial antibiotic therapy only, rather than surgical removal of the appendix, or appendectomy, authors of a new systematic review study conclude.

Identification tags define neural circuits Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:33 AM PST Biologists have identified a network of proteins that guides neural synapse formation in Drosophila brains. They discovered that proteins from two different molecular subfamilies bind together selectively. This binding can cause neurons that express Dpr proteins to form connections with neurons that express the corresponding DIP protein, playing an important role in directing the development of the neuromuscular and visual systems in growing Drosophila.

New model more accurately tracks gases for underground nuclear explosion detection Posted: 17 Dec 2015 10:06 AM PST Scientists have developed a new, more thorough method for detecting underground nuclear explosions (UNEs) by coupling two fundamental elements -- seismic models with gas-flow models -- to create a more complete picture of how an explosion's evidence (radionuclide gases) seep to the surface.

Scientists predict activity of human genes Posted: 17 Dec 2015 10:05 AM PST Genetically identical sibling cells do not always behave the same way. So far this has been attributed to random molecular reactions. Now systems biologists have discovered an overlooked consequence of the spatial separation of cells into a nucleus and a cytoplasm. Building on top of this insight they could predict with supercomputers the activity of genes in individual human cells.

A brain link to autism Posted: 17 Dec 2015 10:05 AM PST Using a visual test that is known to prompt different reactions in autistic and normal brains, researchers have shown that those differences were associated with a breakdown in the signaling pathway used by GABA, one of the brain's chief inhibitory neurotransmitters.

Burgess Shale fossil site gives up oldest evidence of brood care Posted: 17 Dec 2015 10:03 AM PST Researchers have discovered the oldest direct evidence of brood care, with the identification of eggs containing preserved embryos in fossils of the 508-million-year-old Waptia fieldensis. Recent analysis of specimens of the shrimp-like creature found in the renowned Canadian Burgess Shale fossil deposit more than a century ago, revealed clusters of egg-shaped objects located on the underside of a bivalved carapace alongside the anterior third of the body.

First flu exposure imprints itself on immune system Posted: 17 Dec 2015 10:03 AM PST A person's first infection with the influenza virus likely stimulates the production of key antibodies that then shape later immune responses to different seasonal influenza strains. Now researchers provide insights on how exposure to the flu impacts the immune system, which could be valuable for designing more effective and longer-lasting vaccines.

Drugging the microbiome may treat heart disease Posted: 17 Dec 2015 10:03 AM PST A first-of-a-kind drug that interferes with the metabolic activity of gut microbes could one day treat heart disease in humans, according to a mouse study. Dietary supplementation with a compound that is naturally abundant in red wine and olive oil prevented gut microbes from turning unhealthy foods into metabolic byproducts that clog arteries.

Probing the mystery of how cancer cells die Posted: 17 Dec 2015 10:03 AM PST The role sphingolipids play in the death of cancer cells is now better understood, thanks to a recent study. The research traces how levels of various sphingolipids spike inside cancer cells when the cells are undergoing a highly organized form of cellular death called apoptosis.

Pancreas cancer liquid biopsy flows from blood-borne packets of tumor genes Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:52 AM PST Pancreatic cancer tumors spill their molecular secrets into the blood stream, shedding their complete DNA and RNA wrapped inside protective lipid particles that make them ripe for analysis with a liquid biopsy, researchers at report.

Early warning system to save species Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:50 AM PST Managers of wildlife conservation programs are being helped by a method commonly encountered in industrial and service industries. A number of techniques have been developed that are more commonly seen in business settings to encourage improvements in conservation management, say authors of a new report.

Nursing study examines obesity in relation to breast cancer related lymphedema Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:50 AM PST Lymphedema is a major health problem negatively affecting many breast cancer survivors survivors' quality of life. Now researchers have shown this condition can be managed with early and appropriate treatment.

New insights into molecular basis of memory Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:50 AM PST Scientists have shed new light on the molecular basis of memory. Their study confirms that the formation of memories is accompanied by an altered activity of specific genes. In addition, they found an unprecedented amount of evidence that supports the hypothesis that chemical labels on the backbone of the DNA (so-called DNA methylation) may be the molecular basis of long-term memory.

Fungi may help drought-stressed wheat Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:49 AM PST Certain drought-stressed wheat cultivars perform better when their roots are in symbiosis with beneficial fungi, research demonstrates. Experts predict that drought stress in crops will become increasingly serious in the future. Globally, wheat yield is only 30-60 percent of its potential.

Immuno, targeted therapy provide new options for difficult-to-treat head and neck cancer Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:49 AM PST Novel strategies are on the way for difficult-to-treat and advanced head and neck cancer, the most heterogeneous group of malignancies which are generally associated with poor survival, say researchers.

Growing crops on organic soils increases greenhouse gas emissions, say scientists Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:49 AM PST Drained organic soils are a considerable source of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, say researchers. Reducing the emission from cultivated organic soils is an obvious choice to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions from agriculture, they add.

Younger age associated with increased likelihood of targetable genotype in lung cancer Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:49 AM PST Patients younger than 50 diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer had a higher likelihood of having a targetable genomic alteration for which therapies exist, according to an article.

When cancer of unknown origin strikes, patient's family members face increased risk Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:49 AM PST Cancer usually begins in one location and then spreads, but in 3 percent to 5 percent of cancer patients, the tissue where a cancer begins is unknown. Family members of patients with cancers of unknown origin have a higher risk for getting those and other types of cancers, suggests a new study.

'Smart fat cells' cross blood-brain barrier to catch early brain tumors Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:25 AM PST An MRI contrast agent that can pass through the blood-brain barrier will allow doctors to detect deadly brain tumors called gliomas earlier, say researchers. This ability opens the door to make this fatal cancer treatable.

Gerontologist offers suggestions for families coping with dementia Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:24 AM PST A gerontologist offers tips on coping during the holidays with a family member who has dementia. It is important that families communicate with one another ahead of time and inform each other, especially those family members who live farther away, the expert says.

Brain networks under attack Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:23 AM PST Pruning network links can tell us about the dynamics of neuronal networks, say researchers. Their work offers new perspectives for understanding the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases and the dynamics of complex networks.

Men also recommend getting help for depression Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:17 AM PST Participants in a national survey read a scenario describing someone who had depressed symptoms. Men recommended talking to someone about their problems just as much as women did.

High fat/low carb diet could combat schizophrenia Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:17 AM PST A diet favored by body-builders may be effective in treating schizophrenia, suggest researchers. The ketogenic diet may work by providing alternative energy sources in the form of so-called ketone bodies (products of fat breakdown) and by helping to circumvent abnormally functioning cellular energy pathways in the brains of schizophrenics.

New technique both enhances oil recovery, sequesters carbon dioxide Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:15 AM PST A proposed recovery technique for oil extraction not only outperforms existing drilling and recovery techniques, but also has the potential to sequester more carbon dioxide in the process.

Multiple-dose, targeted radiation more effective for treating pituitary tumors, research shows Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:14 AM PST Multiple small doses of highly focused radiation therapy is safer and more effective than a single larger dose of radiation at destroying pituitary gland tumors, new research has demonstrated.

Their enemy's sex pheromone helps flies protect their offspring Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:14 AM PST In nature, up to 80 percent of Drosophila larvae are parasitized by parasitic wasps. However, an innate warning system alerts female flies when wasps are near and increases the larvae's survival rate. Researchers identified the olfactory neuron in Drosophila which senses their enemies. Wasp odors, including their sex pheromone, trigger avoidance behavior in Drosophila. For the first time scientists described an olfactory circuit entirely dedicated to the detection of a fatal enemy.

Binge drinking with chronic alcohol use more destructive than previously thought Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:14 AM PST Chronic alcohol use, when combined with repeated binge drinking, causes more damage to the liver than previously thought, new research shows.

Bone drug protects stem cells from aging Posted: 17 Dec 2015 05:24 AM PST An existing drug used to treat osteoporosis also protects stem cells from aging, scientists have found. These researchers now want to understand if the drug can be used to revert ageing in stem cells.

New research to help unlock the potential of mass digitization in the museum sector Posted: 17 Dec 2015 05:24 AM PST The potential for mass digitization and online publication to enable museums, archives and libraries to share their collections with the public, is huge.  However, recent legislative changes in the UK and across the European Union - while designed to make sharing content easier – have inadvertently created a costly and time consuming process.

Carbon emissions from Indonesian peat fires vary considerably based on fire type, research shows Posted: 17 Dec 2015 05:24 AM PST Revised carbon loss estimates for recurrent fires on tropical peatlands have been revised by a research team. The study also found that peatlands closer to canals have a higher probability of high frequency fires, which release harmful carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

New process provides renewable fuel Posted: 17 Dec 2015 05:24 AM PST Renewable fuels from pyrolysis bio-oil has been created by researchers. Pyrolysis bio-oil is produced by rapidly heating the forest residues in an oxygen-free environment and then rapidly cooling the products formed. By co-gasification with black liquor, a renewable fuel is produced.

New test for cancer, diabetes biomarkers 1000x more detailed Posted: 17 Dec 2015 05:24 AM PST A new test for detecting biomarkers for cancer and diabetes is more than 1000x more detailed and 100% faster than existing methods, report researchers. Named 2D Mass Spectrometry (2DMS), the test provides a new tool in the rapidly expanding field research into the structure and function of proteins: Proteomics.

New research offers reassurance over multiple artery procedures for heart attack victims Posted: 17 Dec 2015 05:24 AM PST A new study has examined the effects on the heart of treating multiple narrowed arteries - rather than just one -- at the time of a heart attack.

New resource to help manage the invasive spotted lanternfly Posted: 17 Dec 2015 05:14 AM PST New research shows how to identify and manage the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), a pest of grapes, peaches, apples, dogwood, maples, walnut, oak, pines, and other plants.

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