Πέμπτη 30 Μαΐου 2013

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Cassini finds hints of activity at Saturn moon Dione

Posted: 29 May 2013 06:51 PM PDT

From a distance, most of the Saturnian moon Dione resembles a bland cueball. Thanks to close-up images of a 500-mile-long (800-kilometer-long) mountain on the moon from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, scientists have found more evidence for the idea that Dione was likely active in the past. It could still be active now.

NASA's WISE mission finds 'lost' asteroid family members

Posted: 29 May 2013 06:49 PM PDT

Data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) have led to a new and improved family tree for asteroids in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter. Astronomers used millions of infrared snapshots from the asteroid-hunting portion of the WISE all-sky survey, called NEOWISE, to identify 28 new asteroid families. The snapshots also helped place thousands of previously hidden and uncategorized asteroids into families for the first time. The findings are a critical step in understanding the origins of asteroid families, and the collisions thought to have created these rocky clans.

From trauma to tau: Researchers tie brain injury to toxic form of protein

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:10 PM PDT

In experiments with laboratory rats, scientists have found that traumatic brain injuries generate a toxic form of protein thought to cause damage in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative conditions.

'Is there a doctor on board? Travelers play valuable role assisting crew in common medical emergencies on flights

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:10 PM PDT

Medical emergencies during commercial airline travel can be a frightening experience, but most situations are well-treated by other passengers and flight attendants, in collaboration with consulting physicians on the ground. A new study has found that doctors, nurses and other medical professionals on the aircraft helped to treat sick fellow passengers in three-fourths of the emergencies studied.

More precision from less predictability: A new quantum trade-off

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:10 PM PDT

Researchers in Australia have demonstrated that, contrary to what the Heisenberg uncertainty relation may suggest, particle properties such as position and momentum can be measured simultaneously with high precision. But it comes at a cost.

Are children who take Ritalin for ADHD at greater risk of future drug abuse?

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:10 PM PDT

Children who take medication such as Ritalin and Adderall for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at no greater risk for later taking alcohol, marijuana, nicotine and cocaine than children with ADHD who do not take the medication, report psychologists who have conducted the most comprehensive assessment ever on this question.

Most comprehensive analyses of NSAIDs and coxibs

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT

Researchers have published the most comprehensive analyses of the benefits and risks of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors (coxibs). The worldwide meta-analysis used individual participant data from 280 trials of NSAIDs vs. placebo and 474 trials of NSAID vs. another NSAID, which involved a total of 353,809 participants and a total of 233,798 person-years. The results address risks and benefits of drugs used for relief of inflammatory arthritis including cardiovascular disease and other relevant outcomes such as gastrointestinal effects.

More at-risk bird species in Brazilian forest than previously thought

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT

In a new study, a team of researchers has applied a novel method for linking large-scale habitat fragmentation to population sustainability.

Thermal limit for animal life redefined by first lab study of deep-sea vent worms

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT

Forty-two may or may not be the answer to everything, but it likely defines the temperature limit where animal life thrives, according to the first laboratory study of heat-loving Pompeii worms from deep-sea vents.

Brain activity in sleep may impact emotional disturbances in children with ADHD

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT

Sleep consolidates emotional memories in healthy children but not in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to new research. The study suggests these deficits in sleep-related emotional processing may exacerbate emotional problems experienced in the daytime by children with ADHD.

Anorexic individuals' disturbed body image influences unconscious movements

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT

Individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa perceive their bodies as being larger than they are and this disturbed body representation affects their movements, according to new research.

Apes get emotional over games of chance

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT

Like some humans, chimpanzees and bonobos exhibit emotional responses to outcomes of their decisions by pouting or throwing angry tantrums when a risk-taking strategy fails to pay off, according to new research.

Even shorter bouts of high-intensity exercise improve physical fitness in inactive men

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:08 PM PDT

It is a commonly held perception that getting in shape and staying there requires hard work and hours upon hours of training. Now, new research shows the opposite – just four minutes of vigorous activity three times per week is enough to make previously inactive men fitter and more healthy.

Living in poor area as teen could increase risk for chlamydia in young adulthood

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:07 PM PDT

Living in a poor neighborhood as an adolescent is linked to an increased risk of getting the sexually transmitted infection (STI) chlamydia in young adulthood, according to new research.

Temporary blood clot filters may do more harm than good for bariatric surgery patients

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:07 PM PDT

The temporary placement of umbrella-like, metal mesh filters in abdominal veins to stop potentially lethal blood clots from traveling to the lungs during and after weight loss surgery may actually increase the risk of death in morbidly obese patients, according to new research.

Artificial sweeteners may do more than sweeten: It can affect how the body reacts to glucose

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:07 PM PDT

Researchers have found that a popular artificial sweetener can modify how the body handles sugar. They analyzed the sweetener sucralose in 17 severely obese people and found it can influence how the body reacts to glucose.

Early brain responses to words predict developmental outcomes in children with autism

Posted: 29 May 2013 04:07 PM PDT

The pattern of brain responses to words in 2-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder predicted the youngsters' linguistic, cognitive and adaptive skills at ages 4 and 6, according to a new study. The findings are among the first to demonstrate that a brain marker can predict future abilities in children with autism.

Task master: Categorizing rewards improves motivation

Posted: 29 May 2013 12:46 PM PDT

When it comes to motivating others and ourselves, it turns out offering rewards in defined categories, even when they are largely meaningless, can heighten motivation. Even if the rewards are the similar -- and the categories arbitrary -- the very act of segmenting rewards motivates people to perform better and longer.

Organic polymers show sunny potential: Groundwork laid for block copolymer solar cells

Posted: 29 May 2013 12:46 PM PDT

A new version of solar cells could open the door to research on a new class of solar energy devices. The photovoltaic devices are based on block copolymers, self-assembling organic materials that arrange themselves into distinct layers. They easily outperform other cells with polymer compounds as active elements.

High-efficiency zinc-air battery developed

Posted: 29 May 2013 12:46 PM PDT

Scientists have developed an advanced zinc-air battery with higher catalytic activity and durability than similar batteries made with costly platinum and iridium catalysts. The results could lead to the development of a low-cost alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries widely used today, according to the researchers.

Researchers shed new light on egg freezing success rates

Posted: 29 May 2013 12:46 PM PDT

Researchers have for the first time codified age-specific probabilities of live birth after in vitro fertilization (IVF) with frozen eggs. By conducting a meta-analysis of oocyte cryopreservation cycles using individualized patient data, researchers were able to report the probability of live birth from IVF cycles.

Adult stem cells could hold key to cure type 1 diabetes

Posted: 29 May 2013 12:44 PM PDT

Scientists have discovered that by combining cells from bone marrow with a new drug may help cure type 1 diabetes.

Putting the brakes on distracted driving

Posted: 29 May 2013 11:44 AM PDT

If you're still using your mobile phone behind the wheel, University of Alberta sociology researcher Abu Nurullah likely has your number.

Change, conflict cue memories of life's milestones

Posted: 29 May 2013 11:44 AM PDT

What will your kids remember about the life stories you tell them? New research shows that they're likely to be able to recall transitional moments you share with them, be it promotions or pets. The research offers strong evidence that societal values significantly affect how people think about and recall events in their lives -- and how we potentially carry old values and beliefs forward in a new country.

Gene that helps honey bees find flowers (and get back home) discovered

Posted: 29 May 2013 11:43 AM PDT

Honey bees don't start out knowing how to find flowers or even how to get around outside the hive. Before they can forage, they must learn to navigate a changing landscape and orient themselves to the sun. In a new study, researchers report that a regulatory gene known to be involved in the detection of novelty in vertebrates also kicks into high gear in the brains of honey bees when they are learning how to find food and bring it home.

Neuroscientists discover new phase of synaptic development

Posted: 29 May 2013 11:43 AM PDT

Students preparing for final exams might want to wait before pulling an all-night cram session -- at least as far as their neurons are concerned. Neuroscientists have discovered a new intermediate phase in neuronal development during which repeated exposure to a stimulus shrinks synapses.

Improving 'crop per drop' could boost global food security and water sustainability

Posted: 29 May 2013 11:43 AM PDT

Improvements in crop water productivity -- the amount of food produced per unit of water consumed -- have the potential to improve both food security and water sustainability in many parts of the world, according to a new study.

Safe for stroke patients to continue blood thinners before minor surgical procedures

Posted: 29 May 2013 11:43 AM PDT

It is is likely safe to continue taking blood thinners before minor procedures such as dental procedures, cataract surgery or dermatologic procedures, according to a new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology.

New possibilities for prostate cancer treatment revealed

Posted: 29 May 2013 11:43 AM PDT

Researchers have identified a sub-group of cells that could contribute to prostate cancer recurrence, opening up new ways to treat the disease.

Gene therapy gives mice broad protection to pandemic flu strains, including 1918 flu

Posted: 29 May 2013 11:42 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new gene therapy to thwart a potential influenza pandemic. They demonstrated that a single dose of an adeno-associated virus expressing a broadly neutralizing flu antibody into the noses of animal models gives them complete protection and substantial reductions in flu replication when exposed to lethal strains of H5N1 and H1N1 flu virus. These were isolated from samples associated from historic human pandemics – the infamous 1918 flu pandemic and another from 2009.

Weightlessness of space used to design better materials for Earth

Posted: 29 May 2013 10:35 AM PDT

Scientists are using the weightlessness of space to design stronger materials here on Earth.

Recovery of Hawaiian green sea turtles still short of historic levels

Posted: 29 May 2013 10:35 AM PDT

Hawaiian green sea turtle populations have increased in recent years, but their numbers still fall far short of historic levels. A new report suggests that calls to lift protection for this species may be premature.

Arctic current flowed under deep freeze of last ice age, study says

Posted: 29 May 2013 10:34 AM PDT

During the last ice age, when thick ice covered the Arctic, many scientists assumed that the deep currents below that feed the North Atlantic Ocean and help drive global ocean currents slowed or even stopped. But in a researchers have now shown that the deep Arctic Ocean has been churning briskly for the last 35,000 years, through the chill of the last ice age and warmth of modern times.

Wit, grit and a supercomputer yield chemical structure of HIV capsid

Posted: 29 May 2013 10:34 AM PDT

Researchers report that they have determined the precise chemical structure of the HIV capsid, a protein shell that protects the virus's genetic material and is a key to its virulence. The capsid has become an attractive target for the development of new antiretroviral drugs.

'Low sodium diet' key to old age for stars: New observations challenge current stellar theories

Posted: 29 May 2013 10:32 AM PDT

Astronomers expect that stars like the Sun will blow off much of their atmospheres into space near the ends of their lives. But new observations of a huge star cluster made using ESO's Very Large Telescope have shown -- against all expectations -- that a majority of the stars studied simply did not get to this stage in their lives at all. The international team found that the amount of sodium in the stars was a very strong predictor of how they ended their lives.

Big brothers and sisters pay off for nature's social spiders

Posted: 29 May 2013 10:32 AM PDT

The behavior of social spiders may settle debates over the benefits of older siblings. Researchers studying Australian social huntsman spiders discovered that younger siblings thrive when raised in nests with older siblings. Bigger brothers and sisters capture bigger, juicier prey, which they share with their younger siblings.

Genetic engineering alters mosquitoes' sense of smell

Posted: 29 May 2013 10:31 AM PDT

In one of the first successful attempts at genetically engineering mosquitoes, researchers have altered the way the insects respond to odors, including the smell of humans and the insect repellant DEET. The research not only demonstrates that mosquitoes can be genetically altered using the latest research techniques, but paves the way to understanding why the insect is so attracted to humans, and how to block that attraction.

Cholesterol sets off chaotic blood vessel growth

Posted: 29 May 2013 10:31 AM PDT

A new study has identified a protein that is responsible for regulating blood vessel growth by mediating the efficient removal of cholesterol from the cells. Unregulated development of blood vessels can feed the growth of tumors.

Cosmic glitch: Astronomers discover new phenomenon in neutron star

Posted: 29 May 2013 10:05 AM PDT

The physics behind some of the most extraordinary stellar objects in the universe just became even more puzzling. A group of astronomers has discovered a new kind of glitch in the cosmos, specifically in the rotation of a neutron star.

NASA’s HS3 mission aircraft to double team 2013 hurricane season

Posted: 29 May 2013 10:03 AM PDT

During this year's hurricane season NASA will "double-team" on research with two unmanned Global Hawk aircraft winging their way over storms that develop during the peak of the season. NASA's Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel, or HS3 airborne mission, will revisit the Atlantic Ocean to investigate storms using additional instruments and for the first time two Global Hawks.

NASA IRIS: Improving our view of the sun

Posted: 29 May 2013 10:01 AM PDT

In late June 2013, NASA will launch a new set of eyes to offer the most detailed look ever of the sun's lower atmosphere, called the interface region. This region is believed to play a crucial role in powering the sun's dynamic million-degree atmosphere, the corona. The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph or IRIS mission will provide the best resolution so far of the widest range of temperatures for of the interface region, an area that has historically been difficult to study.

Pigeons peck for computerized treat

Posted: 29 May 2013 09:11 AM PDT

New research show pigeons can make informed choices, and use a computerized touch-screen as well.

People can 'beat' guilt detection tests by suppressing incriminating memories

Posted: 29 May 2013 09:11 AM PDT

Psychologists have shown that people can suppress incriminating memories and thereby avoid detection in brain activity guilt detection tests.

Twitter may become less interactive and more an advertising broadcast medium like TV or radio

Posted: 29 May 2013 09:10 AM PDT

Popular social media site Twitter may eventually resemble a broadcast medium like television or radio, with users reading messages written by celebrities and corporations rather than writing their own "tweet" messages of up to 140 characters, suggests a new study.

'Junk DNA' plays active role in cancer progression, researchers find

Posted: 29 May 2013 09:10 AM PDT

Scientists have found that a genetic rogue element produced by sequences until recently considered 'junk DNA' could promote cancer progression.

Discovery by physicists furthers understanding of superconductivity: Experiments show Zhang-Rice singlet state in different class of materials

Posted: 29 May 2013 09:10 AM PDT

Physicists have discovered that a crucial ingredient of high-temperature superconductivity could be found in an entirely different class of materials.

New flu strains prompt review of current research, call to redouble flu fight

Posted: 29 May 2013 09:10 AM PDT

New flu strains prompt review of current research and a call to redouble the flu fight.

People lie about their health related behaviors: Truth in barcodes

Posted: 29 May 2013 09:10 AM PDT

People lie about their health related behaviors. It's a problem that has long bedeviled health research on issues ranging from diet to exercise to smoking. And it's not just that we have faulty memories. Many of us stretch the truth to make ourselves seem more virtuous in the eyes of the person in the white coat. That makes drawing conclusions about behaviors that affect health from self-reported records tricky.

Despite safety and other concerns, nuclear power saves lives, greenhouse gas emissions, experts say

Posted: 29 May 2013 08:13 AM PDT

Global use of nuclear power has prevented about 1.84 million air pollution-related deaths and release of 64 billion tons of greenhouse gases that would have resulted from burning coal and other fossil fuels, a new study concludes.

3-D microelectrodes? Charred micro-bunny sculpture shows promise of new material for 3-D shaping

Posted: 29 May 2013 08:13 AM PDT

Researchers have used state-of-the-art micro-sculpting techniques on a new type of resin that can be molded into complex, highly conductive 3-D structures (in this case the famous "Stanford bunny") with features just a few micrometers across. The team says one of the most promising applications is 3-D microelectrodes that could interface with the brain.

Human scabs serve as inspiration for new bandage to speed healing

Posted: 29 May 2013 08:13 AM PDT

Human scabs have become the model for development of an advanced wound dressing material that shows promise for speeding the healing process, scientists are reporting.

Re-creating the original colors of treasured ivory carvings from the ancient past

Posted: 29 May 2013 08:13 AM PDT

The fabled ivory carvings from the ancient Phoenician city of Arslan Tash -- literally meaning "Stone Lion" -- may appear a dull monochrome in museums today, but they glittered with brilliant blue, red, gold and other colors 2,800 years ago, a new study has confirmed after decades of speculation.

New treatment for stroke set to increase chances of recovery

Posted: 29 May 2013 08:12 AM PDT

Researchers have completed a landmark study which has revealed a new way to treat strokes caused by bleeding inside the brain.

Blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's in earliest stage?

Posted: 29 May 2013 08:12 AM PDT

Blood offers promise as a way to detect Alzheimer's disease at its earliest onset, researchers say. They envision a test that would detect distinct metabolic signatures in blood plasma that are synonymous with the disease -- years before patients begin showing cognitive decline.

Gene therapies for regenerative surgery are getting closer

Posted: 29 May 2013 08:12 AM PDT

Experimental genetic techniques may one day provide plastic and reconstructive surgeons with an invaluable tool—the ability to promote growth of the patient's own tissues for reconstructive surgery.

Walking or bicycling to work influenced by others

Posted: 29 May 2013 07:16 AM PDT

People who walk or bike to work are likely to influence their co-workers and partners to do the same, according to health researchers.

Geochemistry survey at Chatham Rise reveals absence of modern day greenhouse gas emissions

Posted: 29 May 2013 07:16 AM PDT

Geochemistry analysis of fossil sediment injection structures off the New Zealand coast in February and March reveal no presence of modern day expulsions of methane gas, a potential contributor to global 'greenhouse effect' warming.

Flexible opals: 'Polymer opals' get color from internal structure alone

Posted: 29 May 2013 07:16 AM PDT

A synthetic material which mimics the brightest and most vivid colors in nature, and changes color when twisted or stretched, has been developed. It could have important applications in the security, textile and sensing industries.

Childhood abuse linked with food addiction in adult women

Posted: 29 May 2013 07:15 AM PDT

Women who experienced severe physical or sexual abuse during childhood are much more likely to have a food addiction as adults than women who did not experience such abuse, according to a new study. The study's findings provide valuable new information regarding potential causes and treatments for food addiction and obesity.

The US shale-gas revolution and European renewables: Divergence and cooperation in alternative energy

Posted: 29 May 2013 07:15 AM PDT

That the United States and Europe have been following different energy policies over the past few decades won't come as a surprise. However, according to one researcher, their divergence – with the US leading 'the shale gas revolution' and Europe investing heavily in modern renewables – is a good thing for the development of both alternative-energy sources.

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