ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Human heart tissue development slower than other mammals
• Multiple tests needed to detect infection in low birth-weight newborns, study suggests
• Mosquitoes exposed to DEET once are less repelled by it a few hours later
• Organic tomatoes accumulate more vitamin C, sugars than conventionally grown fruit
• Using 3-D printing and injectable molds, bioengineered ears look and act like the real thing
• Bracelet-like device controls chronic acid reflux
• Omega-3 lipid emulsions markedly protect brain after stroke in mouse study
• Migratory behavior of oceanic whitetip sharks revealed
• Signaling pathway linked to fetal alcohol risk: Molecular switch promises new targets for diagnosis and therapy
• Low-pitched song indicates fairy-wren size
• Turning pine sap into 'ever-green' plastics
• Background checks, permanent records needed for all firearm transfers, not just gun sales by retailers, experts urge
• Simple view of gravity does not fully explain the distribution of stars in crowded clusters
• Bullied children can suffer lasting psychological harm as adults
• New emphysema procedure tested
• Employees shed pounds in worksite-based weight loss intervention with behavioral counseling
• Antioxidants in your diet may not reduce risk of stroke or dementia, study suggests
• NASA rover confirms first drilled Mars rock sample
• New injectable hydrogel encourages regeneration and improves functionality after a heart attack
• Sunlight yields more efficient carbon dioxide to methanol model
• Genome-wide imaging study identifies new gene associated with Alzheimer's plaques
• Informatics tools underutilized in prevention of hospital-acquired infection
• Variations in four genes associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer
• NASA's Kepler mission discovers tiny planet system: Smallest planet yet found around a star similar to our sun
• Mushroom-supplemented soybean extract shows therapeutic promise for advanced prostate cancer
• Resveratrol shows promise to protect hearing, cognition
• Secrets of human speech uncovered
• Searching for the solar system's chemical recipe
• Ultrahigh-definition TV: New Quad HD TV chip developed
• Gains made towards treatment of rare bone disease
• Smoking cessation in old age: Less heart attacks and strokes within five years
• Children with brain lesions able to use gestures important to language learning
• Fragile X makes brain cells talk too much
• Human cognition depends upon slow-firing neurons
• Molecules assemble in water, hint at origins of life
• Cure for common hangover? 'Pill' mimics action of human liver in fighting alcohol intoxication
• Being stoic for the spouse's sake comes at a high cost
• Little did we know about beetle diversity: Astonishing 138 new species in a single genus
• Potential benefits of inertial fusion energy justify continued research and development
• Self-healing protective coating for concrete
• Ancient 'Egyptian blue' pigment points to new telecommunications, security ink technology
• New imaging device is flexible, flat, and transparent
• Healthy rivalry could boost sport and business performance
• Modifying infant's diet may reduce celiac disease risk, Swedish study suggests
• New technique scales up production of graphene micro-supercapacitors
• New therapeutics could accelerate wound healing
• Quantum dots that assemble themselves
• U.S. could double energy productivity, experts say
• Cost of medication and stigma leading asthma sufferers to risk health
• Balsam for the Bones: Chemists develop a nanopaste for the repair of bone defects
• Sun's next-door twin: Cool layer in the atmosphere of Alpha Centauri A
• High glycemic index foods and dairy products linked to acne
• Sweeping dust from a cosmic lobster
• New taxonomy of platinum nanoclusters
• New analysis of Genesis reveals 'death sandwich' literary theme
• Nano-channel disentangles knotted DNA
• Molecular basis identified for tissue specific immune regulation in the eye and kidney
• Lack of sleep? Keep away from the buffet
• New technology in the magnetic cooling of chips
• Bilingual children have a better 'working memory' than monolingual children

Human heart tissue development slower than other mammals Posted: 20 Feb 2013 05:37 PM PST The walls of the human heart are a disorganized jumble of tissue until relatively late in pregnancy, despite having the shape of a fully functioning heart, according to a pioneering study.

Multiple tests needed to detect infection in low birth-weight newborns, study suggests Posted: 20 Feb 2013 03:49 PM PST New research finds that cultures commonly used to detect bacterial infections in low birth-weight newborns with early onset sepsis may actually overlook some germs.

Mosquitoes exposed to DEET once are less repelled by it a few hours later Posted: 20 Feb 2013 03:49 PM PST Mosquitoes are able to ignore the smell of the insect repellent DEET within a few hours of being exposed to it, according to new research.

Organic tomatoes accumulate more vitamin C, sugars than conventionally grown fruit Posted: 20 Feb 2013 03:49 PM PST Tomatoes grown on organic farms accumulate higher concentrations of sugars, vitamin C and compounds associated with oxidative stress compared to those grown on conventional farms, according to new research.

Using 3-D printing and injectable molds, bioengineered ears look and act like the real thing Posted: 20 Feb 2013 03:47 PM PST Bioengineers and physicians have created an artificial ear -- using 3-D printing and injectable molds -- that looks and acts like a natural ear, giving new hope to thousands of children born with a congenital deformity called microtia. Scientists have described how 3-D printing and injectable gels made of living cells can fashion ears that are practically identical to a human ear. Over a three-month period, these flexible ears grew cartilage to replace the collagen that was used to mold them.

Bracelet-like device controls chronic acid reflux Posted: 20 Feb 2013 03:47 PM PST A bracelet-like device with magnetic beads can control the chronic digestive disorder gastroesophageal reflux disease, according to a new study.

Omega-3 lipid emulsions markedly protect brain after stroke in mouse study Posted: 20 Feb 2013 03:47 PM PST Triglyceride lipid emulsions rich in an omega-3 fatty acid injected within a few hours of an ischemic stroke can decrease the amount of damaged brain tissue by 50 percent or more in mice, reports a new study. The results suggest that the emulsions may be able to reduce some of the long-term neurological and behavioral problems seen in human survivors of neonatal stroke and possibly of adult stroke, as well.

Migratory behavior of oceanic whitetip sharks revealed Posted: 20 Feb 2013 03:47 PM PST As the nations of the world prepare to vote on measures to restrict international trade in endangered sharks in early March, a team of researchers has found that one of these species -- the oceanic whitetip shark -- regularly crosses international boundaries. Efforts by individual nations to protect this declining apex predator within their own maritime borders may therefore need to be nested within broader international conservation measures.

Signaling pathway linked to fetal alcohol risk: Molecular switch promises new targets for diagnosis and therapy Posted: 20 Feb 2013 02:07 PM PST Scientists have identified a molecular signaling pathway that plays an important role in the development of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Low-pitched song indicates fairy-wren size Posted: 20 Feb 2013 02:07 PM PST A male fairy-wren's low pitch song indicates body size, a new study has shown.

Turning pine sap into 'ever-green' plastics Posted: 20 Feb 2013 02:06 PM PST Scientists are developing new plastics that are "green" from the cradle to the grave. Given that the new polymers they are working on often come from pine trees, firs and other conifers, they are giving the word "evergreen" added resonance.

Background checks, permanent records needed for all firearm transfers, not just gun sales by retailers, experts urge Posted: 20 Feb 2013 01:36 PM PST Gun violence in the United States can be substantially reduced if Congress expands requirements for background checks on retail gun sales to cover firearm transfers between private parties, a new report concludes.

Simple view of gravity does not fully explain the distribution of stars in crowded clusters Posted: 20 Feb 2013 01:36 PM PST Gravity remains the dominant force on large astronomical scales, but when it comes to stars in young star clusters the dynamics in these crowded environments cannot be simply explained by the pull of gravity.

Bullied children can suffer lasting psychological harm as adults Posted: 20 Feb 2013 01:36 PM PST Bullied children grow into adults who are at increased risk of developing anxiety disorders, depression and suicidal thoughts, according to a new study.

New emphysema procedure tested Posted: 20 Feb 2013 01:36 PM PST Medical researchers have just treated the first patient in the United States in an experimental lung reduction procedure for emphysema.

Employees shed pounds in worksite-based weight loss intervention with behavioral counseling Posted: 20 Feb 2013 01:35 PM PST Workplace-based programs that include dietary advice coupled with behavioral counseling appear to be a promising approach for men and women with significant weight loss goals, based on the results of a pilot study. Employees enrolled in the intervention arm of a randomized controlled trial lost on average, 18 pounds over a six-month period compared to a two pound weight gain in a control group.

Antioxidants in your diet may not reduce risk of stroke or dementia, study suggests Posted: 20 Feb 2013 01:35 PM PST Contrary to other research, a new study found that the total level of antioxidants in people's diets is not related to their risk of developing stroke or dementia. Antioxidants such as lycopene, beta-carotene and vitamins C and E are found in many foods.

NASA rover confirms first drilled Mars rock sample Posted: 20 Feb 2013 01:11 PM PST NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has relayed new images that confirm it has successfully obtained the first sample ever collected from the interior of a rock on another planet. No rover has ever drilled into a rock beyond Earth and collected a sample from its interior.

New injectable hydrogel encourages regeneration and improves functionality after a heart attack Posted: 20 Feb 2013 12:37 PM PST Bioengineers have demonstrated in a study in pigs that a new injectable hydrogel can repair damage from heart attacks, help the heart grow new tissue and blood vessels, and get the heart moving closer to how a healthy heart should.

Sunlight yields more efficient carbon dioxide to methanol model Posted: 20 Feb 2013 12:37 PM PST In a method that is more efficient and inexpensive than current models, researchers are using carbon dioxide, copper oxide nanowires and simulated sunlight to create methanol.

Genome-wide imaging study identifies new gene associated with Alzheimer's plaques Posted: 20 Feb 2013 12:37 PM PST A study combining genetic data with brain imaging, designed to identify genes associated with the amyloid plaque deposits found in Alzheimer's disease patients, has not only identified the APOE gene -- long associated with development of Alzheimer's -- but has uncovered an association with a second gene, called BCHE.

Informatics tools underutilized in prevention of hospital-acquired infection Posted: 20 Feb 2013 12:36 PM PST A new study has measured the awareness, adoption and use of electronic medical record systems and health information exchange by hospital-based infection preventionists to report and share information critical to public health. The researchers found these technologies' capabilities are underutilized by those on the front lines of preventing and reporting infections.

Variations in four genes associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer Posted: 20 Feb 2013 10:47 AM PST Medical researchers have identified variations in four genes that are linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

NASA's Kepler mission discovers tiny planet system: Smallest planet yet found around a star similar to our sun Posted: 20 Feb 2013 10:35 AM PST NASA's Kepler mission scientists have discovered a new planetary system that is home to the smallest planet yet found around a star similar to our sun. The planets are located in a system called Kepler-37, about 210 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. The smallest planet, Kepler-37b, is slightly larger than our moon, measuring about one-third the size of Earth. It is smaller than Mercury, which made its detection a challenge.

Mushroom-supplemented soybean extract shows therapeutic promise for advanced prostate cancer Posted: 20 Feb 2013 10:20 AM PST A natural, nontoxic product called genistein-combined polysaccharide, or GCP, which is commercially available in health stores, could help lengthen the life expectancy of certain prostate cancer patients, researchers have found.

Resveratrol shows promise to protect hearing, cognition Posted: 20 Feb 2013 10:17 AM PST Resveratrol, a substance found in red grapes and red wine, may have the potential to protect against hearing and cognitive decline, according to a new study.

Secrets of human speech uncovered Posted: 20 Feb 2013 10:17 AM PST Scientists have uncovered the neurological basis of speech motor control, the complex coordinated activity of tiny brain regions that controls our lips, jaw, tongue and larynx as we speak.

Searching for the solar system's chemical recipe Posted: 20 Feb 2013 09:34 AM PST The ratio of isotopes in elements like oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen were once thought to be much the same everywhere, determined only by their different masses. Then isotope ratios in meteorites, interplanetary dust and gas, and the sun itself were found to differ from those on Earth. Planetary researchers are now studying these "mass-independent" effects and their origins in the chemical processes of the early solar system.

Ultrahigh-definition TV: New Quad HD TV chip developed Posted: 20 Feb 2013 09:34 AM PST It took only a few years for high-definition televisions to make the transition from high-priced novelty to ubiquitous commodity -- and they now seem to be heading for obsolescence just as quickly. Several manufacturers have recently debuted new ultrahigh-definition, or UHD, models (also known as 4K or Quad HD) with four times the resolution of today's HD TVs.

Gains made towards treatment of rare bone disease Posted: 20 Feb 2013 09:34 AM PST Diagnosed in toddlers, X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is the most common form of heritable rickets, in which soft bones bend and deform, and tooth abscesses develop because infections penetrate soft teeth that are not properly calcified. Researchers have identified that osteopontin, a major bone and tooth substrate protein, plays a role in XLH. Their discovery may pave the way to effectively treating this rare disease.

Smoking cessation in old age: Less heart attacks and strokes within five years Posted: 20 Feb 2013 09:34 AM PST Smokers increase their risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke with every cigarette they smoke. Conversely, those who quit smoking even at an advanced age will have a considerable decrease in their risk after a very short time.

Children with brain lesions able to use gestures important to language learning Posted: 20 Feb 2013 09:34 AM PST Children with brain lesions suffered before or around the time of birth are able to use gestures -- an important aspect of the language learning process -- to convey simple sentences.

Fragile X makes brain cells talk too much Posted: 20 Feb 2013 09:34 AM PST The most common inherited form of mental retardation and autism, fragile X syndrome, turns some brain cells into chatterboxes, scientists report. The extra talk may make it harder for brain cells to identify and attend to important signals.

Human cognition depends upon slow-firing neurons Posted: 20 Feb 2013 09:34 AM PST Good mental health and clear thinking depend upon our ability to store and manipulate thoughts on a sort of "mental sketch pad." In a new study, researchers describe the molecular basis of this ability -- the hallmark of human cognition -- and describe how a breakdown of the system contributes to diseases such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.

Molecules assemble in water, hint at origins of life Posted: 20 Feb 2013 09:33 AM PST Researchers are exploring an alternate theory for the origin of RNA: they think the RNA bases may have evolved from a pair of molecules distinct from the bases we have today. This theory looks increasingly attractive, as researchers were able to achieve efficient, highly ordered self-assembly in water with small molecules that are similar to the bases of RNA.

Cure for common hangover? 'Pill' mimics action of human liver in fighting alcohol intoxication Posted: 20 Feb 2013 08:43 AM PST In a discovery that could promise a quick fix to the common hangover, a team of engineers has identified a method for speeding up the body's reaction to the consumption of alcohol.

Being stoic for the spouse's sake comes at a high cost Posted: 20 Feb 2013 08:40 AM PST In the wealth of studies about parental grief, little attention has been paid to precisely how couples relate to each other as they struggle to come to terms with the death of a child. A new study addresses this gap in bereavement research by focusing on the way that couples together process the grief of losing a child.

Little did we know about beetle diversity: Astonishing 138 new species in a single genus Posted: 20 Feb 2013 08:40 AM PST Researchers have described in a single article 138 new species in a genus of tropical beetles. This six-fold increase in known diversity indicates the extent to which remarkable biodiversity can remain undetected.

Potential benefits of inertial fusion energy justify continued research and development Posted: 20 Feb 2013 08:40 AM PST The potential benefits of successful development of an inertial confinement fusion-based energy technology justify investment in fusion energy research.

Self-healing protective coating for concrete Posted: 20 Feb 2013 08:40 AM PST Scientists are reporting development of what they describe as the first self-healing protective coating for cracks in concrete, the world's most widely used building material. The material is both inexpensive and environmentally friendly.

Ancient 'Egyptian blue' pigment points to new telecommunications, security ink technology Posted: 20 Feb 2013 08:39 AM PST A bright blue pigment used 5,000 years ago is giving modern scientists clues toward the development of new nanomaterials with potential uses in state-of-the-art medical imaging devices, remote controls for televisions, security inks and other technology.

New imaging device is flexible, flat, and transparent Posted: 20 Feb 2013 08:39 AM PST Digital cameras, medical scanners, and other imaging technologies have advanced considerably during the past decade. Continuing this pace of innovation, an Austrian research team has developed an entirely new way of capturing images based on a flat, flexible, transparent, and potentially disposable polymer sheet.

Healthy rivalry could boost sport and business performance Posted: 20 Feb 2013 08:38 AM PST New research shows that people can recover from poor performance when rivals comment on their failures. The research shows that while criticism from team members sends individuals into downward performance spirals, external criticism can be a trigger that boosts performance as people try to prove the outsiders wrong.

Modifying infant's diet may reduce celiac disease risk, Swedish study suggests Posted: 20 Feb 2013 08:32 AM PST Celiac disease is much more common in Sweden than in the rest of Europe and the U.S., but may be prevented with gradually introducing gluten-containing foods to breast-feeding infants, according to a comprehensive study.

New technique scales up production of graphene micro-supercapacitors Posted: 20 Feb 2013 07:07 AM PST While the demand for ever-smaller electronic devices has spurred the miniaturization of a variety of technologies, one area has lagged behind in this downsizing revolution: energy-storage units, such as batteries and capacitors. Engineers have now developed a groundbreaking technique that uses a DVD burner to fabricate micro-scale graphene-based supercapacitors. These micro-supercapacitors can be easily manufactured and integrated into small devices such as next-generation pacemakers.

New therapeutics could accelerate wound healing Posted: 20 Feb 2013 07:07 AM PST Chemistry and biochemistry professors report a discovery to exploit our body's ability to heal itself, that could lead to new bio-mimicking therapeutics to treat skin wounds.

Quantum dots that assemble themselves Posted: 20 Feb 2013 07:07 AM PST Scientists have demonstrated a process whereby quantum dots can self-assemble at optimal locations in nanowires, a breakthrough that could improve solar cells, quantum computing, and lighting devices.

U.S. could double energy productivity, experts say Posted: 20 Feb 2013 07:07 AM PST Researchers have long understood that using energy more efficiently can be just as beneficial as finding new ways to produce energy more efficiently.

Cost of medication and stigma leading asthma sufferers to risk health Posted: 20 Feb 2013 07:07 AM PST The high cost of medication, stigmatization and poor acceptance of their condition are causing young adults to take a dangerous approach to managing their asthma, according to new research.

Balsam for the Bones: Chemists develop a nanopaste for the repair of bone defects Posted: 20 Feb 2013 07:05 AM PST Following accidents or cancer surgery surgeons often have to transplant healthy bone tissue or synthetic material to repair the resulting bone defects. Unfortunately, these procedures do not always have the desired effect.

Sun's next-door twin: Cool layer in the atmosphere of Alpha Centauri A Posted: 20 Feb 2013 06:24 AM PST The European Space Agency's Herschel space observatory has detected a cool layer in the atmosphere of Alpha Centauri A, the first time this has been seen in a star beyond our own Sun. The finding is not only important for understanding the Sun's activity, but could also help in the quest to discover proto-planetary systems around other stars.

High glycemic index foods and dairy products linked to acne Posted: 20 Feb 2013 05:48 AM PST A new study has determined that there is increasing evidence of a connection between diet and acne, particularly from high glycemic load diets and dairy products, and that medical nutrition therapy can play an important role in acne treatment.

Sweeping dust from a cosmic lobster Posted: 20 Feb 2013 05:47 AM PST Located around 8000 light-years away in the constellation of Scorpius (The Scorpion), NGC 6357 -- sometimes nicknamed the Lobster Nebula due to its appearance in visible-light images -- is a region filled with vast clouds of gas and tendrils of dark dust. These clouds are forming stars, including massive hot stars which glow a brilliant blue-white in visible light.

New taxonomy of platinum nanoclusters Posted: 20 Feb 2013 05:47 AM PST The unexpected diversity of metallic nanoclusters' inner structure has now been catalogued into families.

New analysis of Genesis reveals 'death sandwich' literary theme Posted: 20 Feb 2013 05:47 AM PST An online tool has, for the first time, revealed a common literary technique in the Book of Genesis that has remained hidden in the text for millennia.

Nano-channel disentangles knotted DNA Posted: 20 Feb 2013 05:47 AM PST DNA, just like hair, has a tendency to become knotted, thus it may be useful to disentangle it. Unfortunately, it is not possible to "actively" choose at random (or better, in one solution) the filaments with the desired features, and this is why scientists adopt "passive" solutions like, for instance, having the DNA pass through nano-pores or nano-channels.

Molecular basis identified for tissue specific immune regulation in the eye and kidney Posted: 20 Feb 2013 05:47 AM PST Scientists have made important advances in understanding why our immune system can attack our own tissues resulting in eye and kidney diseases. It is hoped the research will pave the way for the development of new treatments for the eye condition age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the kidney condition atypical Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS).

Lack of sleep? Keep away from the buffet Posted: 20 Feb 2013 05:47 AM PST New research shows that sleep-deprived people select greater portion sizes of energy-dense snacks and meals than they do after one night of normal sleep. Poor sleep habits can therefore affect people's risk of becoming overweight in the long run.

New technology in the magnetic cooling of chips Posted: 20 Feb 2013 05:44 AM PST Scientists have developed a new technology in the magnetic cooling of chips based on the straining of materials. Compared with the current technologies, this advance reduces the impact on the environment.

Bilingual children have a better 'working memory' than monolingual children Posted: 20 Feb 2013 05:44 AM PST Bilingual children develop a better working memory –- which holds, processes and updates information over short periods of time -– than monolingual children, according to new research. The working memory plays a major role in the execution of a wide range of activities, such as mental calculation (since we have to remember numbers and operate with them) or reading comprehension (given that it requires associating the successive concepts in a text).

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