ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Whole genome or exome sequencing: An individual insight
• People's perception of the effect of stress on their health is linked to risk of heart attacks
• Zebrafish study paves the way for new treatments for genetic disorder
• Simple two-drug combination proves effective in reducing risk of stroke
• Social network size predicts social cognitive skills in primates
• Social animals have more social smarts
• Hold the medicinal lettuce
• People with a disability more likely to be obese, have chronic illnesses
• Salmonella infection is a battle between good and bad bacteria in the gut
• Human activities threaten Sumatran tiger population
• Researchers find zinc's crucial pathway to the brain
• Helping many people boosts social standing more than helping many times
• Antibiotics: Change route of delivery to mitigate resistance
• First transiting planets in a star cluster discovered
• Have a brain injury? You may be at higher risk for stroke
• Comparing genomes of wild and domestic tomato
• Solar power heads in a new direction: Thinner
• A stepping-stone for oxygen on Earth
• New brain imaging study provides support for the notion of food addiction
• Cloning mice: For the first time, a donor mouse has been cloned using a drop of peripheral blood from its tail
• Archaeologists unearth Tuscaloosa's early history
• DNA found outside genes plays largely unknown, potentially vital roles: Thousands of previously unknown RNA molecules identified
• Ingested nanoparticle toxicity
• People prefer 'carrots' to 'sticks' when it comes to healthcare incentives
• Social capabilities of performing multiple-action sequences
• Potential therapeutic approach to Alzheimer's disease
• New dispatch system could save money for trucking industry, make life easier for drivers
• Getting the carbon out of emissions
• Can home-culture images impair second-language skills?
• Christians tweet more happily, less analytically than atheists
• A 700,000-year-old horse gets its genome sequenced
• Location of upwelling in Earth's mantle discovered to be stable
• Survivor of stellar collision is new type of pulsating star
• Chimps or humans: Who's the better baseball pitcher?
• Climate tug of war disrupting Australian atmospheric circulation patterns
• Astronomers spy on galaxies in the raw
• How men and women cooperate
• Crabgrass' secret: The despised weed makes herbicide to kill neighboring plants
• Songbirds turn on and tune up
• Sea level along Maryland's shorelines could rise two feet by 2050
• Quantum engines must break down
• Unraveling the largest outbreak of fungal infections associated with contaminated steroid injections
• Calcium and vitamin D help hormones help bones
• You have the right to remain silent and look guilty
• Cutlery: Do size, weight, shape and color matter?
• How does pedestrian head-loading affect the health of women and children in sub-Saharan Africa?
• Sailors most often injure their knees -- on land
• Teenage physical fitness reduces the risk of suicidal behavior later in life
• Realistic robot carp created: First robot fish with autonomous 3-D movement in Asia
• Study ranks social contacts by job and social group in bid to fight infectious diseases
• Technique to promote nerve regeneration after spinal cord injury restores bladder function in rats

Whole genome or exome sequencing: An individual insight Posted: 26 Jun 2013 06:19 PM PDT Focusing on parts rather than the whole, when it comes to genome sequencing, might be extremely useful, finds new research. The research compares several sequencing technologies in the same individual with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), and shows that sequencing the coding regions alone at high depth of coverage can identify the genetic variation behind this disease, and was also able to resolve previous ambiguities. Next generation sequencing for understanding human DNA variation and genetic disorders is advancing in leaps and bounds.

People's perception of the effect of stress on their health is linked to risk of heart attacks Posted: 26 Jun 2013 06:19 PM PDT People who believe that stress is having an adverse impact on their health are probably right, because they have an increased risk of suffering a heart attack, according to new research.

Zebrafish study paves the way for new treatments for genetic disorder Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:40 PM PDT Scientists have paved the way for new treatments for a common genetic disorder thanks to pioneering research on zebrafish -- an animal capable of mending its own heart.

Simple two-drug combination proves effective in reducing risk of stroke Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:40 PM PDT Results of a Phase III clinical trial showed that a simple drug regimen of two anti-clotting drugs -- clopidogrel and aspirin -- lowered the risk of stroke by almost one-third, compared to the standard therapy of aspirin alone, when given to patients who had minor or transient stroke symptoms to prevent subsequent attacks.

Social network size predicts social cognitive skills in primates Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:40 PM PDT The size of a primate's social group can predict cognitive skills related to social abilities, according to new research. The authors compared six lemur species' performance on two tests, a social cognition task that required understanding a competitor's actions and a second test where animals tried to retrieve food placed in a transparent tube, testing their non-social cognitive skills.

Social animals have more social smarts Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:40 PM PDT Lemurs from species that hang out in big tribes are more likely to steal food behind your back instead of in front of your face. This behavior suggests that primates who live in larger social groups tend to have more "social intelligence," a new study shows.

Hold the medicinal lettuce Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:39 PM PDT New research suggests that bits of genetic material from plants eaten by mice can NOT enter the bloodstream intact as previous research from another institution had indicated.

People with a disability more likely to be obese, have chronic illnesses Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:39 PM PDT Adults with a disability are more likely to be obese or extremely obese than those without a disability according to a new study.

Salmonella infection is a battle between good and bad bacteria in the gut Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:39 PM PDT A new study that examined food poisoning infection as-it-happens in mice revealed harmful bacteria, such as a common type of Salmonella, takes over beneficial bacteria within the gut amid previously unseen changes to the gut environment. The results provide new insights into the course of infection and could lead to better prevention or new treatments.

Human activities threaten Sumatran tiger population Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:39 PM PDT Wildlife researchers have found that tigers in central Sumatra live at very low densities, lower than previously believed.

Researchers find zinc's crucial pathway to the brain Posted: 26 Jun 2013 01:28 PM PDT A new study helps explain how parts of the brain maintain their delicate balance of zinc, an element required in minute but crucial doses, particularly during embryonic development.

Helping many people boosts social standing more than helping many times Posted: 26 Jun 2013 01:28 PM PDT A business may build a better reputation as a good corporate citizen by donating $100,000 to 10 charities, as opposed to $1 million to one charity, suggested anthropologists. Contrary to earlier assumptions in theoretical biology, new research found that helping a greater number of people builds a positive reputation more than helping a few people many times. The results of this research can offer guidance to businesses and politicians on how to improve their public images.

Antibiotics: Change route of delivery to mitigate resistance Posted: 26 Jun 2013 01:28 PM PDT New research suggests that the rapid rise of antibiotic resistance correlates with oral ingestion of antibiotics, raising the possibility that other routes of administration could reduce the spread of resistance.

First transiting planets in a star cluster discovered Posted: 26 Jun 2013 01:28 PM PDT All stars begin their lives in groups. Most stars are born in small groups that quickly fall apart. Others form in huge, dense swarms, where stars jostle with thousands of neighbors while strong radiation and harsh stellar winds scour interstellar space, stripping planet-forming materials from nearby stars. It would thus seem an unlikely place to find alien worlds. Yet 3,000 light-years from Earth, in the star cluster NGC 6811, astronomers have found two planets smaller than Neptune orbiting sun-like stars.

Have a brain injury? You may be at higher risk for stroke Posted: 26 Jun 2013 01:26 PM PDT People who have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be more likely to have a future stroke, according to new research.

Comparing genomes of wild and domestic tomato Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:39 PM PDT You say tomato, I say comparative transcriptomics. Researchers in the US, Europe and Japan have produced the first comparison of both the DNA sequences and which genes are active, or being transcribed, between the domestic tomato and its wild cousins.

Solar power heads in a new direction: Thinner Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:39 PM PDT Atom-thick photovoltaic sheets could pack hundreds of times more power per weight than conventional solar cells.

A stepping-stone for oxygen on Earth Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:39 PM PDT For most terrestrial life on Earth, oxygen is necessary for survival. But the planet's atmosphere did not always contain this life-sustaining substance, and one of science's greatest mysteries is how and when oxygenic photosynthesis first began. Now, geobiologists have found evidence of a precursor photosystem involving manganese that predates cyanobacteria, the first group of organisms to release oxygen into the environment via photosynthesis.

New brain imaging study provides support for the notion of food addiction Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:39 PM PDT Consuming highly processed carbohydrates can cause excess hunger and stimulate brain regions involved in reward and cravings, according to a new study. These findings suggest that limiting these "high-glycemic index" foods could help obese individuals avoid overeating.

Cloning mice: For the first time, a donor mouse has been cloned using a drop of peripheral blood from its tail Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:39 PM PDT Since Dolly the sheep in 1996, reproductive cloning has continued to advance; nearly 20 different mammalian species have now been cloned. Researchers have now developed a unique cloning procedure using peripheral blood cells, which may be collected repeatedly from a single animal and so facilitate preservation of infertile mouse strains.

Archaeologists unearth Tuscaloosa's early history Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:39 PM PDT As the former location of a Civil War outhouse and POW facility to an antebellum furniture maker and ice factory, a patch of dirt in downtown Tuscaloosa has hidden a wealth of Southern history within its layers. Excavations are further revealing some of the country's rich past.

DNA found outside genes plays largely unknown, potentially vital roles: Thousands of previously unknown RNA molecules identified Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:31 AM PDT A new study highlights the potential importance of the vast majority of human DNA that lies outside of genes within the cell.

Ingested nanoparticle toxicity Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:31 AM PDT Ingestion of commonly encountered nanoparticles at typical environmental levels is unlikely to cause overt toxicity, according to US researchers. Nevertheless there is insufficient evidence to determine whether chronic exposures could lead to subtle alterations in intestinal immune function, protein profiles, or microbial balance.

People prefer 'carrots' to 'sticks' when it comes to healthcare incentives Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:31 AM PDT To keep costs low, companies often incentivize healthy lifestyles. Now, new research suggests that how these incentives are framed -- as benefits for healthy-weight people or penalties for overweight people -- makes a big difference. The research shows that policies that carry higher premiums for overweight individuals are perceived as punishing and stigmatizing.

Social capabilities of performing multiple-action sequences Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:31 AM PDT Scientists are examining how action planning generalizes to collaborative actions performed with others.

Potential therapeutic approach to Alzheimer's disease Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:31 AM PDT Scientists have demonstrated a new potential target in the fight against Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases in two mouse models.

New dispatch system could save money for trucking industry, make life easier for drivers Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:31 AM PDT Engineers are studying a new approach to organize and route truck transportation that could save millions of dollars, improve the quality of life for thousands of truck drivers and make freight transportation far more efficient. There's a potential to revolutionize the way that truck transportation is handled in the United States and around the world.

Getting the carbon out of emissions Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:31 AM PDT Researchers propose a new method to remove carbon from emissions that could be more efficient than previous systems and easier to retrofit in existing power plants.

Can home-culture images impair second-language skills? Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:31 AM PDT New research shows that reminders of your heritage culture can trigger troubles in your second language.

Christians tweet more happily, less analytically than atheists Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:31 AM PDT A computer analysis of nearly 2 million text messages (tweets) on the online social network Twitter found that Christians use more positive words, fewer negative words and engage in less analytical thinking than atheists. Christians also were more likely than atheists to tweet about their social relationships, the researchers found.

A 700,000-year-old horse gets its genome sequenced Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:29 AM PDT Scientists have just sequenced the oldest genome from a prehistoric creature. They have done so by sequencing and analyzing short pieces of DNA molecules preserved in bone-remnants from a horse that had been kept frozen for the last 700,000 years in the permafrost of Yukon, Canada.

Location of upwelling in Earth's mantle discovered to be stable Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:29 AM PDT A new study shows that large-scale upwelling within Earth's mantle mostly occurs in only two places: Beneath Africa and the Central Pacific. These upwelling locations have remained remarkably stable over geologic time, despite dramatic reconfigurations of tectonic plate motions and continental locations on the Earth's surface. The study describes a plate tectonic "quadrupole," which defines two points of "net convergence" and two points of "net divergence" of tectonic plate motions.

Survivor of stellar collision is new type of pulsating star Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:28 AM PDT Astronomers have observed the remnant of a stellar collision and discovered that its brightness varies in a way not seen before on this rare type of star. By analyzing the patterns in these brightness variations, astronomers will learn what really happens when stars collide.

Chimps or humans: Who's the better baseball pitcher? Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:27 AM PDT Scientists collected motion data from baseball players to uncover why humans are such good throwers. Little leaguers and professional baseball players alike have our extinct ancestors to thank for their success on the mound, shows a new study. Of course, the ability to throw fast and accurately did not evolve so our ancestors could play ball. Instead, the study proposes that this ability first evolved nearly 2 million years ago to aid in hunting. Humans are unique in their throwing ability, even when compared to our chimpanzee cousins.

Climate tug of war disrupting Australian atmospheric circulation patterns Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:36 AM PDT Further evidence of climate change shifting atmospheric circulation in the southern Australian-New Zealand region has been identified in a new study.

Astronomers spy on galaxies in the raw Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:36 AM PDT A radio telescope has detected the raw material for making the first stars in galaxies that formed when the Universe was just three billion years old -- less than a quarter of its current age.

How men and women cooperate Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:36 AM PDT Cooperation is essential in any successful romantic relationship, but how men and women experience cooperation emotionally may be quite different, according to new research. While men tend to mirror their partners' emotions during moments of high mutual cooperation, women might actually have the opposite response, suggests a new study.

Crabgrass' secret: The despised weed makes herbicide to kill neighboring plants Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:36 AM PDT Contrary to popular belief, crabgrass does not thrive in lawns, gardens and farm fields by simply crowding out other plants. A new study has found that the much-despised weed actually produces its own herbicides that kill nearby plants.

Songbirds turn on and tune up Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:36 AM PDT Bullfinches learn from human teachers to sing melodies accurately, according to a new study. The analysis of human melody singing in bullfinches gives insights into the songbirds' brain processes.

Sea level along Maryland's shorelines could rise two feet by 2050 Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:35 AM PDT A new report on sea level rise recommends that the State of Maryland should plan for a rise in sea level of as much as 2 feet by 2050. The projections are based on an assessment of the latest climate change science and federal guidelines.

Quantum engines must break down Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:35 AM PDT Our present understanding of thermodynamics is fundamentally incorrect if applied to small systems and need to be modified, according to new research. The work establishes new laws in the rapidly emerging field of quantum thermodynamics. The findings have wide applications in small systems, from nanoscale engines and quantum technologies, to biological motors and systems found in the body.

Unraveling the largest outbreak of fungal infections associated with contaminated steroid injections Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:35 AM PDT Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describe pathologic findings from 40 case reports of fungal infection in patients who had been given contaminated epidural, paraspinal, or intra-articular (into joints) steroid injections and correlate these findings with clinical and laboratory data. The report alerts clinicians and the general public to the catastrophic dangers of contaminated epidural injections.

Calcium and vitamin D help hormones help bones Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:35 AM PDT Should women take calcium and vitamin D supplements after menopause for bone health? Recommendations conflict, and opinions are strong. But now, an analysis from the major Women's Health Initiative trial throws weight on the supplement side -- at least for women taking hormones after menopause.

You have the right to remain silent and look guilty Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:34 AM PDT Saying 'no comment' in a police interview can make you look guilty, according to a study from the United Kingdom.

Cutlery: Do size, weight, shape and color matter? Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:34 AM PDT The appearance of cutlery can affect perception of a food's taste, a new study finds. Food tastes saltier when eaten from a knife, and denser and more expensive from a light plastic spoon. Taste was also affected by the color of the cutlery.

How does pedestrian head-loading affect the health of women and children in sub-Saharan Africa? Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:34 AM PDT A new paper looks at how the practice of head-loading can affect the health of women and children, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa.

Sailors most often injure their knees -- on land Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:33 AM PDT The knees are the body part that is injured the most by dinghy sailors. The injuries are primarily due to overstrain and most often occur during physical training, according to a study by researchers in Sweden.

Teenage physical fitness reduces the risk of suicidal behavior later in life Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:33 AM PDT Being in good physical shape at 18 years of age can be linked with a reduced risk of attempted suicide later in life. So says a study of over one million Swedish men.

Realistic robot carp created: First robot fish with autonomous 3-D movement in Asia Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:30 AM PDT Scientists have developed a robot fish that mimics the movements of a carp. This robot which is essentially an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is ready for applications, as it can be programmed to perform specific functions, for example, for underwater archaeology such as exploring nooks and corners of wreckage -- or sunken city which are difficult for divers or traditional AUVs to access. Other applications include military activities, pipeline leakage detection, and the laying of communication cable.

Study ranks social contacts by job and social group in bid to fight infectious diseases Posted: 25 Jun 2013 04:25 PM PDT In the light of Novel Corona Virus, concerns over H7N9 Influenza in S.E. Asia, and more familiar infections such as measles and seasonal influenza, it is as important as ever to be able to predict and understand how infections transmit through populations. Researchers in the UK have mapped the daily contact networks of thousands of individuals to shed light on which groups may be at highest risk of contracting and spreading respiratory diseases.

Technique to promote nerve regeneration after spinal cord injury restores bladder function in rats Posted: 25 Jun 2013 02:23 PM PDT Using a novel technique to promote the regeneration of nerve cells across the site of severe spinal cord injury, researchers have restored bladder function in paralyzed adult rats, according to a new study. The findings may guide future efforts to restore other functions lost after spinal cord injury. It also raises hope that similar strategies could one day be used to restore bladder function in people with severe spinal cord injuries.

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