ScienceDaily: Top News

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• NASA X-ray concept inspired from a roll of Scotch® tape
• MRSA cases in academic hospitals double in five years
• Photovoltaics from any semiconductor: Opens door to more widespread solar energy devices
• Efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression confirmed in new study
• Do ovaries continue to produce eggs during adulthood?
• Modeling of new enzymes helps develop therapies for cocaine abuse
• Decoding the secrets of balance
• First robot that mimics the water striders' jumping abilities
• Alcohol could intensify effects of some drugs in the body
• Solving the mystery of how cigarette smoking weakens bones
• Protective role of skin microbiota described
• Bone marrow transplant eliminates signs of HIV infection
• Climate change linked to ozone loss: May result in more skin cancer
• Biological mechanism for growing massive animal weapons, ornaments discovered
• Entropy can lead to order, paving the route to nanostructures
• World's smallest semiconductor laser created
• Brightest stars don't live alone: Most stellar heavyweights come in interacting pairs, VLT finds
• Prosthetic implant under development
• Engineers are designing, building mechanical ray
• One act of remembering can influence future acts
• Connectomics: Mapping the neural network governing male roundworm mating
• Genetic cause of most lethal brain tumor pinpointed: May lead to new treatment
• Researchers unveil molecular details of how bacteria propagate antibiotic resistance
• Study identifies receptor's role in regulating obesity, type 2 diabetes
• Repetitious, time-intensive magical rituals considered more effective, study shows
• Lower vitamin D could increase risk of dying, especially for frail, older adults
• Men with prostate cancer more likely to die from other causes
• Ion selectivity in neuronal signaling channels evolved twice in animals
• Measurement advance could speed innovation in solar devices
• Students discover methane seep ecosystem
• Diabetes research reveals important link to overcoming 'lazy insulin granules'
• Hoard of Crusader gold found in ruins
• Genomic study of Africa's hunter-gatherers elucidates human variation and ancient interbreeding
• New drug could help maintain long-term weight loss
• Eye-writing technology: Writing in cursive with your eyes only
• Controlling monkey brains and behavior with light
• Deadly E. coli strain decoded
• DNA damage in roofers due to PAH exposure, possible cancer link
• Methane measurements at low level flight: Detection of the greenhouse gas methane in the Arctic
• New stroke treatments becoming a reality
• Teamwork against carcinogenic benzene: Three teams of microbial harmful substance eliminators cooperate to destroy benzene
• Genome analysis of brain tumors showing the way to new treatment strategies
• Waste water analysis reveals for the first time real time information regarding drug consumption in 19 European cities
• Actinobacteria as the base of the evolutionary tree
• Molecular mechanism behind deep-sea bacteria's pressure tolerance
• Picture worth a thousand numbers: New data visualization tool helps find the 'unknown unknowns'
• Orientation of far-off multiplanet system has orientation very similar to our own solar system
• Unprecedented accuracy in locating brain electrical activity with new device
• The fin whale, under more threat in the Mediterranean than thought
• Switching the state of matter may provide a novel building block for ultra low power devices
• First photo evidence of snub-nosed monkey species in China
• A pulsar with a tremendous hiccup: Young and energetic neutron star has unusually irregular rotation
• How extreme weather contributes to greenhouse gas emissions
• Expectations lead to less but more efficient processing in the human brain
• European drug use analyzed through raw sewage samples

NASA X-ray concept inspired from a roll of Scotch® tape Posted: 26 Jul 2012 03:03 PM PDT The inspiration behind a NASA scientist's quest to build a highly specialized X-ray mirror using a never-before-tried technique comes from an unusual source: a roll of Scotch® tape.

MRSA cases in academic hospitals double in five years Posted: 26 Jul 2012 03:03 PM PDT Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) doubled at academic medical centers in the US between 2003 and 2008, according to a new report.

Photovoltaics from any semiconductor: Opens door to more widespread solar energy devices Posted: 26 Jul 2012 03:03 PM PDT Researchers have developed a technology that enables low-cost, high efficiency solar cells to be made from virtually any semiconductor material. This opens the door to the use of plentiful, relatively inexpensive semiconductors previously considered unsuitable for photovoltaics.

Efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression confirmed in new study Posted: 26 Jul 2012 03:03 PM PDT In one of the first studies to look at transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in real-world clinical practice settings, researchers have confirmed that TMS is an effective treatment for patients with depression who are unable to find symptom relief through antidepressant medications.

Do ovaries continue to produce eggs during adulthood? Posted: 26 Jul 2012 03:02 PM PDT A compelling new genetic study tracing the origins of immature egg cells, or 'oocytes', from the embryonic period throughout adulthood adds new information to a growing controversy. The notion of a "biological clock" in women arises from the fact that oocytes progressively decline in number as females get older, along with a decades-old dogmatic view that oocytes cannot be renewed in mammals after birth.

Modeling of new enzymes helps develop therapies for cocaine abuse Posted: 26 Jul 2012 03:02 PM PDT Researchers have designed and discovered a series of highly efficient enzymes that effectively metabolize cocaine.

Decoding the secrets of balance Posted: 26 Jul 2012 12:39 PM PDT Scientists had previously believed that the brain decoded balance information linearly and therefore actually attempted to reconstruct the time course of velocity and acceleration stimuli. But by combining electrophysiological and computational approaches, scientists have been able to show for the first time that the neurons in the vestibular nuclei in the brain instead decode incoming information nonlinearly as they respond preferentially to unexpected, sudden changes in stimuli.

First robot that mimics the water striders' jumping abilities Posted: 26 Jul 2012 12:39 PM PDT The first bio-inspired microrobot capable of not just walking on water like the water strider -- but continuously jumping up and down like a real water strider -- now is a reality. Scientists have developed the agile microrobot which could use its jumping ability to avoid obstacles on reconnaissance or other missions.

Alcohol could intensify effects of some drugs in the body Posted: 26 Jul 2012 12:39 PM PDT Scientists are reporting another reason -- besides possible liver damage, stomach bleeding and other side effects -- to avoid drinking alcohol while taking certain medicines. Laboratory experiments show that alcohol made several medications up to three times more available to the body, effectively tripling the original dose.

Solving the mystery of how cigarette smoking weakens bones Posted: 26 Jul 2012 12:39 PM PDT Almost 20 years after scientists first identified cigarette smoking as a risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fractures, a new study is shedding light on exactly how cigarette smoke weakens bones. The report concludes that cigarette smoke makes people produce excessive amounts of two proteins that trigger a natural body process that breaks down bone.

Protective role of skin microbiota described Posted: 26 Jul 2012 12:39 PM PDT Scientists have found that bacteria that normally live in the skin may help protect the body from infection. As the largest organ of the body, the skin represents a major site of interaction with microbes in the environment.

Bone marrow transplant eliminates signs of HIV infection Posted: 26 Jul 2012 12:39 PM PDT Two men with longstanding HIV infections no longer have detectable HIV in their blood cells following bone marrow transplants. The virus was easily detected in blood lymphocytes of both men prior to their transplants but became undetectable by eight months post-transplant. The men, who were treated have remained on anti-retroviral therapy.

Climate change linked to ozone loss: May result in more skin cancer Posted: 26 Jul 2012 11:22 AM PDT Scientists are warning that a newly-discovered connection between climate change and depletion of the ozone layer over the US could allow more damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation to reach Earth's surface, leading to increased incidence of skin cancer.

Biological mechanism for growing massive animal weapons, ornaments discovered Posted: 26 Jul 2012 11:22 AM PDT In the animal kingdom, huge weapons such as elk antlers or ornaments like peacock feathers are sexy. Their extreme size attracts potential mates and warns away lesser rivals. Now scientists have discovered a developmental mechanism they think may be responsible for the excessive growth of threatening horns or come-hither tail feathers.

Entropy can lead to order, paving the route to nanostructures Posted: 26 Jul 2012 11:22 AM PDT Researchers trying to herd tiny particles into useful ordered formations have found an unlikely ally: Entropy, a tendency generally described as "disorder."

World's smallest semiconductor laser created Posted: 26 Jul 2012 11:21 AM PDT Physicists have developed the world's smallest semiconductor laser, a breakthrough for emerging photonic technology with applications from computing to medicine.

Brightest stars don't live alone: Most stellar heavyweights come in interacting pairs, VLT finds Posted: 26 Jul 2012 11:21 AM PDT A study using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope has shown that most very bright high-mass stars do not live alone. Almost three quarters of them are found to have a close companion star, far more than previously thought. Surprisingly most of these pairs are experiencing disruptive interactions, and about one third are even expected to ultimately merge to form a single star.

Prosthetic implant under development Posted: 26 Jul 2012 11:20 AM PDT Thousands of veterans and warfighters returning to the U.S. suffer with limb amputations, and for many, standard prosthetics are not an option. Skin issues or short remaining-limb length can cause amputees to forgo the typical socket-type attachment systems. Researchers are now offering hope to amputees for a permanent limb replacement.

Engineers are designing, building mechanical ray Posted: 26 Jul 2012 11:20 AM PDT Batoid rays, such as stingrays and manta rays, are among nature's most elegant swimmers. They are fast, highly maneuverable, graceful, energy-efficient, can cruise, bird-like, for long distances in the deep, open ocean, and rest on the sea bottom. Researchers are trying to emulate the seemingly effortless but powerful swimming motions of rays by engineering their own ray-like machine modeled on nature. They are designing an "autonomous underwater vehicle" that someday may surpass what nature has provided as a model. The vehicle has potential commercial and military applications, and could be used for undersea exploration and scientific research.

One act of remembering can influence future acts Posted: 26 Jul 2012 11:20 AM PDT Can the simple act of recognizing a face as you walk down the street change the way we think? Or can taking the time to notice something new on our way to work change what we remember about that walk? Researchers now show that remembering something old or noticing something new can bias how you process subsequent information.

Connectomics: Mapping the neural network governing male roundworm mating Posted: 26 Jul 2012 11:20 AM PDT Scientists have determined the complete wiring diagram for the part of the nervous system controlling mating in the male roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, an animal model intensively studied by scientists worldwide.

Genetic cause of most lethal brain tumor pinpointed: May lead to new treatment Posted: 26 Jul 2012 11:20 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that some cases of glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form of primary brain cancer, are caused by the fusion of two adjacent genes. The study also found that drugs that target the protein produced by this genetic aberration can dramatically slow the growth of glioblastomas in mice.

Researchers unveil molecular details of how bacteria propagate antibiotic resistance Posted: 26 Jul 2012 10:52 AM PDT A research team may have found a new way to prevent "superbugs" from genetically propagating drug resistance.

Study identifies receptor's role in regulating obesity, type 2 diabetes Posted: 26 Jul 2012 10:52 AM PDT A recent study demonstrates that the A2b-type adenosine receptor, A2bAR, plays a significant role in the regulation of high fat, high cholesterol diet-induced symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

Repetitious, time-intensive magical rituals considered more effective, study shows Posted: 26 Jul 2012 10:52 AM PDT A new psychology study shows the reasons why people find logic in magical rituals. The findings provide new insight into cognitive reasoning processes -- and how people intuitively make sense out of the unknown.

Lower vitamin D could increase risk of dying, especially for frail, older adults Posted: 26 Jul 2012 10:52 AM PDT A new study concludes that among older adults – especially those who are frail – low levels of vitamin D can mean a much greater risk of death. The randomized, nationally representative study found that older adults with low vitamin D levels had a 30 percent greater risk of death than people who had higher levels.

Men with prostate cancer more likely to die from other causes Posted: 26 Jul 2012 10:52 AM PDT Men diagnosed with prostate cancer are less likely to die from the disease than from largely preventable conditions such as heart disease, according to a new study. It is the largest study to date that looks at causes of death among men with prostate cancer, and suggests that encouraging healthy lifestyle changes should play an important role in prostate cancer management.

Ion selectivity in neuronal signaling channels evolved twice in animals Posted: 26 Jul 2012 10:52 AM PDT Excitation of neurons depends on the selected influx of certain ions through specific channels. Obviously, these channels were crucial for the evolution of nervous systems in animals. Scientists have revealed that voltage-gated sodium channels, which are responsible for neuronal signaling in the nerves of animals, evolved twice in higher and lower animals.

Measurement advance could speed innovation in solar devices Posted: 26 Jul 2012 10:52 AM PDT A novel measurement system can accurately and quickly measures the energy output of solar power devices. Combining two different techniques and suitable for use in both the lab and the production line, their device could be a boon to manufacturers working on better, more competitive solar energy systems.

Students discover methane seep ecosystem Posted: 26 Jul 2012 10:51 AM PDT During a recent oceanographic expedition off San Diego, graduate student researchers discovered convincing evidence of a deep-sea site where methane is likely seeping out of the seafloor, the first such finding off San Diego County.

Diabetes research reveals important link to overcoming 'lazy insulin granules' Posted: 26 Jul 2012 10:51 AM PDT Scientists have made an important discovery on the role of a SNARE protein known as VAMP8 in the release of insulin from the pancreatic islet beta cells. The study will further our understanding of how the body can produce higher levels of insulin in patients with diabetes.

Hoard of Crusader gold found in ruins Posted: 26 Jul 2012 09:21 AM PDT Archaeologists have uncovered a hoard of real-life buried treasure -- a trove of gold coins at the 13th century Crusader castle of Arsur between the ancient ports of Jaffa and Caesarea.

Genomic study of Africa's hunter-gatherers elucidates human variation and ancient interbreeding Posted: 26 Jul 2012 09:21 AM PDT Geneticists have analyzed the fully sequenced genomes of 15 Africans belonging to three different hunter-gatherer groups and decipher some of what these genetic codes have to say about human diversity and evolution.

New drug could help maintain long-term weight loss Posted: 26 Jul 2012 09:21 AM PDT A new drug could aid in losing weight and keeping it off. The drug increases sensitivity to the hormone leptin, a natural appetite suppressant found in the body. Although so far the new drug has only been tested on mice, the findings have implications for the development of new treatments for obesity in humans.

Eye-writing technology: Writing in cursive with your eyes only Posted: 26 Jul 2012 09:21 AM PDT New technology might allow people who have almost completely lost the ability to move their arms or legs to communicate freely, by using their eyes to write in cursive. The eye-writing technology tricks the neuromuscular machinery into doing something that is usually impossible: to voluntarily produce smooth eye movements in arbitrary directions.

Controlling monkey brains and behavior with light Posted: 26 Jul 2012 09:21 AM PDT Researchers have for the first time shown that they can control the behavior of monkeys by using pulses of blue light to activate particular brain cells. The findings represent a key advance for optogenetics, a state-of-the-art method for making causal connections between brain activity and behavior. The researchers say that similar light-based mind control could likely also be made to work in humans for therapeutic ends.

Deadly E. coli strain decoded Posted: 26 Jul 2012 09:11 AM PDT The secret to the deadly 2011 E. coli outbreak in Germany has now been decoded. The deadliest E. coli outbreak ever was traced to a particularly virulent strain that researchers had never seen in an outbreak before.

DNA damage in roofers due to PAH exposure, possible cancer link Posted: 26 Jul 2012 09:11 AM PDT Roofers have higher PAH blood-levels after a shift than before and that these high levels of PAHs are linked with increased rates of DNA damage, and potentially with higher cancer risk.

Methane measurements at low level flight: Detection of the greenhouse gas methane in the Arctic Posted: 26 Jul 2012 08:30 AM PDT First time measurements of large-scale methane emissions have been taken from the extensive Arctic permafrost landscapes.

New stroke treatments becoming a reality Posted: 26 Jul 2012 08:30 AM PDT Scientists have demonstrated a drug which can dramatically limit the amount of brain damage in stroke patients.

Teamwork against carcinogenic benzene: Three teams of microbial harmful substance eliminators cooperate to destroy benzene Posted: 26 Jul 2012 08:30 AM PDT With modern analytical procedures scientists have succeeded for the first time in tracking the path of the harmful substance Benzene through such a bacterial community with proteins. Accordingly, three teams of microbial harmful substance eliminators cooperate, each with its own tasks.

Genome analysis of brain tumors showing the way to new treatment strategies Posted: 26 Jul 2012 08:30 AM PDT Scientists are systematically investigating the genomes of pediatric brain tumors (medulloblastoma and pylocytic astrocytoma). In their first data evaluation, researchers have now discovered genomic changes which not only reveal targets for new treatment approaches but also provide information about how to use already available drugs more specifically.

Waste water analysis reveals for the first time real time information regarding drug consumption in 19 European cities Posted: 26 Jul 2012 08:29 AM PDT Waste water analysis using urinary biomarkers allows the reliable detection of actual drug consumption in cities. For the first time, a wide group of scientists have carried out a comparative study regarding the consumption of illegal drugs in 19 European cities, four of which are Spanish, based on waste water analysis. In the case of Spain, cannabis and cocaine consumption is higher than that of other drugs such as methamphetamines and ecstasy, appearing in each of the four cities analysed: Barcelona, Castelló de la Plana, Santiago de Compostela and Valencia.

Actinobacteria as the base of the evolutionary tree Posted: 26 Jul 2012 08:27 AM PDT Using comparisons of protein structure, researchers identified Actinobacteria as the base of the evolutionary tree.

Molecular mechanism behind deep-sea bacteria's pressure tolerance Posted: 26 Jul 2012 08:27 AM PDT A Japanese research team has identified a structural change that confers pressure-resistant properties on a particular protein found in bacteria.

Picture worth a thousand numbers: New data visualization tool helps find the 'unknown unknowns' Posted: 26 Jul 2012 08:27 AM PDT Scientists have developed a software tool that enables users to perform in-depth analysis of modeling and simulation data, then visualize the results on-screen. The new data analysis and visualization tool offers improved ease of use compared to similar tools, the researchers say.

Orientation of far-off multiplanet system has orientation very similar to our own solar system Posted: 26 Jul 2012 08:13 AM PDT Our solar system exhibits a remarkably orderly configuration: The eight planets orbit the sun much like runners on a track, circling in their respective lanes and always keeping within the same sprawling plane. In contrast, most exoplanets discovered in recent years -- particularly the giants known as "hot Jupiters" -- inhabit far more eccentric orbits. Now researchers have detected the first exoplanetary system, 10,000 light years away, with regularly aligned orbits similar to those in our solar system. At the center of this faraway system is Kepler-30, a star as bright and massive as the sun.

Unprecedented accuracy in locating brain electrical activity with new device Posted: 26 Jul 2012 07:27 AM PDT Researchers have developed the world's first device designed for mapping the human brain that combines whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. MEG measures the electrical function and MRI visualizes the structure of the brain. The merging of these two technologies will produce unprecedented accuracy in locating brain electrical activity non-invasively.

The fin whale, under more threat in the Mediterranean than thought Posted: 26 Jul 2012 07:17 AM PDT Until now it was thought that fin whales in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea made up part of the distribution of this species of whale in the Mediterranean. However, scientists have just discovered that their population has been overestimated by including specimens from the Atlantic that visit at certain times the western Mediterranean, where the noise generated by human activity affects their survival.

Switching the state of matter may provide a novel building block for ultra low power devices Posted: 26 Jul 2012 07:17 AM PDT Sixty years after the transistor began a technological revolution that transformed nearly every aspect of our daily lives, a new transistor brings innovations that may help to do so again. The device uses the electrostatic accumulation of electrical charge on the surface of a strongly-correlated material to trigger bulk switching of electronic state. Functional at room temperature and triggered by a potential of only 1 V, the switching mechanism provides a novel building block for ultra low power devices, non-volatile memory and optical switches based on a new device concept.

First photo evidence of snub-nosed monkey species in China Posted: 26 Jul 2012 07:17 AM PDT Researchers confirm that the snub-nosed monkey is not restricted to Myanmar. Chinese researchers have published the first evidence that a population of the recently discovered snub-nosed monkey, Rhinopithecus Strykeri, live in China. Until now researchers have been unable to photograph the monkey, whose upturned nostrils are said to make it sneeze in the rain.

A pulsar with a tremendous hiccup: Young and energetic neutron star has unusually irregular rotation Posted: 26 Jul 2012 07:17 AM PDT Pulsars are superlative cosmic beacons. These compact neutron stars rotate about their axes many times per second, emitting radio waves and gamma radiation into space.  Using ingenious data analysis methods, researchers dug a very special gamma-ray pulsar out of data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The pulsar J1838-0537 is radio-quiet, very young, and, during the observation period, experienced the strongest rotation glitch ever observed for a gamma-ray-only pulsar.

How extreme weather contributes to greenhouse gas emissions Posted: 26 Jul 2012 06:45 AM PDT While experts debate whether extreme weather conditions such as this summer's record rainfall in the UK can be explained by climate change, geographers are investigating whether the opposite is true – does extreme weather impact on climate change?

Expectations lead to less but more efficient processing in the human brain Posted: 26 Jul 2012 06:45 AM PDT Even though we have the impression that we see the world around us as it really is, our perception is strongly influenced by our expectations. Our knowledge of the world helps us recognize objects and people quickly and accurately, even when the image we receive is noisy or unclear, such as cyclists in the park at dusk, or football players on a television set with poor reception.

European drug use analyzed through raw sewage samples Posted: 26 Jul 2012 06:45 AM PDT Surveys of drug use form an important basis for the development of effective drug policies, and also for measuring the effectiveness of existing policies. For the first time in history, scientists have now made direct comparisons of illicit drug use in 19 European cities by a cooperative analysis of raw sewage samples.

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