ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Increasing threat of intense tropical cyclones hitting East Asia
• Why don't TV audiences care about suffering in other countries?
• Crittercam captures crocodilian foraging behaviors (videos)
• Coevolution between humans, bacteria reduces gastric cancer risk, research suggests
• 'Barcode' profiling enables analysis of hundreds of tumor marker proteins at once
• Heart attack damage slashed with microparticle therapy
• Monitoring inactive hepatitis B patients is cost-effective strategy
• Ray of hope for magazines in digital era
• Nanotechnology: A deeper look at interfaces
• Fast food not the major cause of rising childhood obesity rates, study finds
• Acidification, predators pose double threat to oysters
• Narcissism -- to a point -- can make more effective leader, researchers find
• Arctic: Mercury deposition and ozone depletion, linked to sea-ice dynamics
• Oldest trees are growing faster, storing more carbon as they age
• Speech means using both sides of brain
• Cracked sea ice stirs up Arctic mercury concern
• Later school start times improve sleep and daytime functioning in adolescents
• 'Sourcing hub' could help create more efficient supply chain
• New strategy emerges for fighting drug-resistant malaria
• Alaskan caribou, ptarmigan migrations recorded
• Self-control isn't in short supply (despite what it looks like)
• Take a stand, be active to reduce chronic disease, make aging easier, research finds
• Quantum physics could make secure, single-use computer memories possible
• Finally, a way to authenticate premium chocolate
• Layered security: Carbon nanotubes promise improved flame-resistant coating
• First comprehensive test to detect genetic modification in food
• Potential treatment for better heart health in hemodialysis patients
• Parental leave policies best promote gender equity, well-being in women's health
• Coral reefs in Palau surprisingly resistant to naturally acidified waters
• Discovery of an early predictor of increased diabetes risk
• Patients with spinal cord injuries should be assessed for sleep apnea
• Diabetes blood glucose targets risk free, research shows
• Leukemia: mode of action of a targeted treatment clarified
• Ants protect acacia plants against pathogens
• Don't fear the dawn of the drones; someday one might save your life
• New evidence of 'Nordic grog' discovered in Scandinavia
• Study shows elevated rates of inadequate pap tests in transgender men
• Don’t just sit there! Prolonged sitting linked to early mortality in women
• Living in fantasyland? Luck is more important than fantasy sports players think
• Study provides guidance on drug holidays from popular osteoporosis treatments
• Vision and multitasking: Brain can perform more than one function without sacrificing time or accuracy
• Scientists warn: Conservation work in zoos is too random
• International study allows better prediction of risk of hereditary cancer
• Copycats pave the way to problem-solving success
• Internal clock, feeding rhythm set pace of liver
• Some families would consider terminal sedation for brain injured relatives in permanent vegetative state, study shows
• Study explores possible costs, benefits of making movies with 'Oscar appeal'
• Researchers find metabolic clues to diabetic kidney failure
• Exposures to some phthalates fall after federal ban
• Multihormone reverses metabolic damage of high calorie diet
• Warping images using your PC graphics card
• Car manufacturing: Fast track towards mass production
• Treating chronic kidney disease using clay minerals
• Genetic sequence of 1,000 marine viruses published
• Large landmasses existed 2.7 billion years ago
• Women with a high economic status claim to have better sex, Spanish study shows
• Virtual reality moral dilemmas show just how utilitarian we really are
• Microscopic fountain pen adds new functionality to AFM microscopy
• Gold nanoparticles help to develop a new method for tracking viruses
• First planet found around solar twin in star cluster

Increasing threat of intense tropical cyclones hitting East Asia Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:32 PM PST The intensity of tropical cyclones hitting East Asia has significantly increased over the past 30 years, according to a new study.

Why don't TV audiences care about suffering in other countries? Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:31 PM PST Television audiences care less about suffering experienced by people in other countries when they watch the news than when they watch a range of different programs, according to new research.

Crittercam captures crocodilian foraging behaviors (videos) Posted: 15 Jan 2014 02:28 PM PST Animal-borne camera reveals that alligators may attempt to capture prey most often at night, even though the calculated probability of catching prey is highest in the morning.

Coevolution between humans, bacteria reduces gastric cancer risk, research suggests Posted: 15 Jan 2014 11:37 AM PST Researchers studied two Colombian villages and discovered that the risk of gastric cancer (caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria) depends on both the ancestry of the person and the ancestry of the microbe they carry. All villagers had similar rates of H. pylori infection, but gastric cancer occurred 25 times more often in the mountain village; coevoluton between humans and bacteria had reduced gastric cancer rates in the coastal villagers.

'Barcode' profiling enables analysis of hundreds of tumor marker proteins at once Posted: 15 Jan 2014 11:37 AM PST A new technology allows simultaneous analysis of hundreds of cancer-related protein markers from miniscule patient samples gathered through minimally invasive methods.

Heart attack damage slashed with microparticle therapy Posted: 15 Jan 2014 11:37 AM PST After a heart attack, much of the damage to the heart muscle is caused by inflammatory cells that rush to the scene. But that damage is slashed in half when microparticles are injected into the bloodstream within 24 hours of the attack, reports new research. The heart lesion was reduced by 50 percent and the heart could pump significantly more blood as a result of the microparticles. The new therapy has the potential to transform the way heart attacks are treated.

Monitoring inactive hepatitis B patients is cost-effective strategy Posted: 15 Jan 2014 11:36 AM PST A novel study determined that monitoring inactive chronic hepatitis B (HBV) carriers is a cost-effective strategy for China. However, results show that increasing treatment, monitoring and adherence to therapy are necessary to achieve significant health benefits at the population level.

Ray of hope for magazines in digital era Posted: 15 Jan 2014 11:36 AM PST While print media continue to suffer at the hands of their online counterparts, new research finds that print magazines with companion websites are able to attract more advertising dollars.

Nanotechnology: A deeper look at interfaces Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:27 AM PST A new technique makes it possible for the first time to selectively study the electronic structure of buried interfaces in multilayer nanodevices.

Fast food not the major cause of rising childhood obesity rates, study finds Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:27 AM PST For several years, many have been quick to attribute rising fast-food consumption as the major factor causing rapid increases in childhood obesity. Now researchers report that fast-food consumption is simply a byproduct of a much bigger problem: poor all-day-long dietary habits that originate in children's homes.

Acidification, predators pose double threat to oysters Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:27 AM PST The once-booming, now struggling Olympia oyster native to the West Coast could face a double threat from ocean acidification and invasive predators, according to new research.

Narcissism -- to a point -- can make more effective leader, researchers find Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:27 AM PST Although Narcissus himself might not have been able to step away from his reflection in the mirror to get to the office, when it comes to leadership, a moderate amount of narcissism can go a long way.

Arctic: Mercury deposition and ozone depletion, linked to sea-ice dynamics Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:27 AM PST Scientists have established, for the first time, a link between Arctic sea ice dynamics and the region's changing atmospheric chemistry potentially leading to increased amounts of mercury deposited to the Earth's northernmost and most fragile ecosystems.

Oldest trees are growing faster, storing more carbon as they age Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:27 AM PST In a finding that overturns the conventional view that large old trees are unproductive, scientists have determined that for most species, the biggest trees increase their growth rates and sequester more carbon as they age. An international research group reports that 97 percent of 403 tropical and temperate species grow more quickly the older they get.

Speech means using both sides of brain Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:26 AM PST We use both sides of our brain for speech, a finding by researchers that alters previous conceptions about neurological activity. The results also offer insights into addressing speech-related inhibitions caused by stroke or injury and lay the groundwork for better rehabilitation methods.

Cracked sea ice stirs up Arctic mercury concern Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:22 AM PST Vigorous mixing in the air above large cracks in Arctic sea ice that expose seawater to cold polar air pumps atmospheric mercury down to the surface, finds a NASA field campaign. This process can lead to more of the toxic pollutant entering the food chain, where it can negatively affect the health of fish and animals who eat them, including humans.

Later school start times improve sleep and daytime functioning in adolescents Posted: 15 Jan 2014 09:22 AM PST A psychologist and sleep expert recently led a study linking later school start times to improved sleep and mood in teens.

'Sourcing hub' could help create more efficient supply chain Posted: 15 Jan 2014 09:22 AM PST The lack of contact between firms at either end of a supply chain prevents companies from gaining efficiencies in costs, design and materials, says an expert.

New strategy emerges for fighting drug-resistant malaria Posted: 15 Jan 2014 09:22 AM PST Malaria is one of the most deadly infectious diseases in the world today, claiming the lives of over half a million people every year, and the recent emergence of parasites resistant to current treatments threatens to undermine efforts to control the disease. Researchers are now onto a new strategy to defeat drug-resistant strains of the parasite.

Alaskan caribou, ptarmigan migrations recorded Posted: 15 Jan 2014 09:22 AM PST A ladder of 14 automated cameras has for the first time recorded the northward springtime migrations of caribou and ptarmigan in the foothills of the Brooks Range, Alaska. Some 40,000 images allowed researchers to estimate the speed of the animals' movement and their behavior en route. The authors created "animations" from photographs taken every 15 minutes. Their approach, which minimizes disturbance to the animals, could be used to elucidate factors affecting migrations of other species.

Self-control isn't in short supply (despite what it looks like) Posted: 15 Jan 2014 09:22 AM PST It might be true that people have a harder time controlling themselves when they are tired at the end of the day, but that doesn't mean that self-control is a limited resource, say authors of a new study. The trick to fighting that couch potato urge is for you (or your kids) to find pleasure in productive activities.

Take a stand, be active to reduce chronic disease, make aging easier, research finds Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST By sitting less and moving more, people can reduce their risks of chronic diseases and make aging easier, according to research.

Quantum physics could make secure, single-use computer memories possible Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST Computer security systems may one day get a boost from quantum physics as a result of recent research. Computer scientists have devised a way to make a security device that has proved notoriously difficult to build -- a "one-shot" memory unit, whose contents can be read only a single time.

Finally, a way to authenticate premium chocolate Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST For some people, nothing can top a morsel of luxuriously rich, premium chocolate. But until now, other than depending on their taste buds, chocolate connoisseurs had no way of knowing whether they were getting what they paid for. Scientists are reporting, for the first time, a method to authenticate the varietal purity and origin of cacao beans, the source of chocolate's main ingredient, cocoa.

Layered security: Carbon nanotubes promise improved flame-resistant coating Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST Using an approach akin to assembling a club sandwich at the nanoscale,researchers have succeeded in crafting a uniform, carbon-nanotube-based coating that greatly reduces the flammability of foam commonly used in furniture and other soft furnishings.

First comprehensive test to detect genetic modification in food Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST As the abundance of genetically modified (GM) foods continues to grow, so does the demand for monitoring and labeling them. The genes of GM plants used for food are tweaked to make them more healthful or pest-resistant, but some consumers are wary of such changes. To help inform shoppers and enforce regulations, scientists are reporting the first comprehensive method to detect genetic modifications in one convenient, accurate test.

Potential treatment for better heart health in hemodialysis patients Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST Researchers have discovered a potential way to improve the lipid profiles in patients undergoing hemodialysis that may prevent cardiovascular disease common in these patients. Patients undergoing hemodialysis for kidney failure are at a greater risk for atherosclerosis, a common disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries. Atherosclerosis can lead to serious problems including heart attack, stroke or even death.

Parental leave policies best promote gender equity, well-being in women's health Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST Government policies that allow both parents to take time off after a child is born provide positive benefits for the physical and mental health of women, according to a literature review that looked at the influence of public policies on women's overall health.

Coral reefs in Palau surprisingly resistant to naturally acidified waters Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST Ocean researchers working on the coral reefs of Palau in 2011 and 2012 made two unexpected discoveries that could provide insight into corals' resistance and resilience to ocean acidification, and aid in the creation of a plan to protect them.

Discovery of an early predictor of increased diabetes risk Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST A research team has discovered that a protein found in muscle tissue may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes later in life. The study's results indicate that the protein could be a promising early predictor of increased diabetes risk.

Patients with spinal cord injuries should be assessed for sleep apnea Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST A new study suggests that patients with spinal cord injuries could benefit from careful assessment for sleep apnea.

Diabetes blood glucose targets risk free, research shows Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:32 AM PST Diabetes research has underlined the importance of people with diabetes achieving their blood sugar goals, to reduce the risk of complications. The team analyzed people with a specific genetic change, which means they have elevated blood glucose levels from birth. These higher levels mimic guidelines issued to people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Leukemia: mode of action of a targeted treatment clarified Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:32 AM PST The mechanism of senescence -- or premature cell aging -- can have an anticancer effect. New work reveals that targeted treatments for acute promyelocytic leukemia, a rare form of blood cancer, cause a cascade of molecular events leading to cellular senescence and recovery.

Ants protect acacia plants against pathogens Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:32 AM PST The presence of mutualistic ants greatly reduces bacterial abundance on surfaces of acacia leaves and has a visibly positive effect on plant health. Study results indicate that symbiotic bacteria colonizing the ants inhibit pathogen growth on the leaves.

Don't fear the dawn of the drones; someday one might save your life Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:32 AM PST Engineering researchers are finding new and unique approaches to developing autopilots for unmanned aerial vehicles and getting them into the hands of firefighters and other first responders.

New evidence of 'Nordic grog' discovered in Scandinavia Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:30 AM PST A new discovery highlights innovative and complex fermented beverages of northern Europe in the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Study shows elevated rates of inadequate pap tests in transgender men Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:30 AM PST Cervical cancer can still occur in female-to-male transgender men. A new study finds that female-to-male (FTM) transgender patients had over 10 times higher odds of having an inadequate Papanicolaou (Pap) test compared to female patients.

Don’t just sit there! Prolonged sitting linked to early mortality in women Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:30 AM PST A new study of 93,000 postmenopausal American women found those with the highest amounts of sedentary time – defined as sitting and resting, excluding sleeping – died earlier than their most active peers. The association remained even when controlling for physical mobility and function, chronic disease status, demographic factors and overall fitness – meaning that even habitual exercisers are at risk if they have high amounts of idle time.

Living in fantasyland? Luck is more important than fantasy sports players think Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:30 AM PST Fantasy sports players can spend thousands of dollars and certainly that many hours developing sophisticated leagues and playing strategies steeped in analysis and superstition —- all for teams that aren't real.

Study provides guidance on drug holidays from popular osteoporosis treatments Posted: 15 Jan 2014 07:02 AM PST Doctors commonly recommend drug holidays, or breaks, from certain osteoporosis drugs due to the risks associated with these treatments. Yet little has been known about the ideal duration of the holidays and how best to manage patients during this time.

Vision and multitasking: Brain can perform more than one function without sacrificing time or accuracy Posted: 15 Jan 2014 07:02 AM PST Most of the time your brain doesn't perform as well as it could when it has to multitask. But when it comes to visual sampling, researchers have found that multitasking is no problem.

Scientists warn: Conservation work in zoos is too random Posted: 15 Jan 2014 07:01 AM PST The world's zoos work hard and spend enormous resources on the conservation of endangered species, but the resources are not always optimally spent. One big problem is international legislation and the need of more zoos to work in regional or global networks. Zoo resources can be spent much more effectively, say scientists after analyzing animal collections across the world's zoos.

International study allows better prediction of risk of hereditary cancer Posted: 15 Jan 2014 07:01 AM PST An international study has developed a refined method to identify people at risk for certain inherited cancer as a result of Lynch syndrome. The study has carried out clinical and basic researchers who are part of the INSIGHT (International Society for Gastroeintestinal Hereditary Tumors).

Copycats pave the way to problem-solving success Posted: 15 Jan 2014 07:01 AM PST It often is better to be surrounded by copycats than innovators, according to a new study. Imitators, say researchers, "often make their own improvements to the original solution, and these can, in turn, be adopted and improved upon by the originator and others." In such fields as medicine, software development or art, where there are a "huge number of ideas with unknown potential," having copycats around you can provide an edge.

Internal clock, feeding rhythm set pace of liver Posted: 15 Jan 2014 07:01 AM PST Living organisms have adapted to the day-night cycle and, in most cases, evolved a "circadian clock" -- that is: an actual cellular metronome -- whose effects are not completely known yet. A scientific team has found that in the case of the liver, the rhythm of protein production and release is dictated by both the organisms' feeding behaviors and their internal clock.

Some families would consider terminal sedation for brain injured relatives in permanent vegetative state, study shows Posted: 15 Jan 2014 06:59 AM PST The families of some very severely brain injured patients believe that once all treatment options are exhausted, allowing their relatives to die with the help of terminal sedation would be a humane and compassionate option, research has revealed.

Study explores possible costs, benefits of making movies with 'Oscar appeal' Posted: 15 Jan 2014 06:58 AM PST What do Hollywood moguls holding their breath this week for an Oscar nomination have in common with the influence peddlers on K Street in Washington, D.C.? More than you might imagine, suggests new research by sociologists.

Researchers find metabolic clues to diabetic kidney failure Posted: 15 Jan 2014 06:58 AM PST A new study that compares the metabolic fingerprints of patients who develop ESRD versus those who don't has furnished new clues to the disease.

Exposures to some phthalates fall after federal ban Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:57 AM PST Americans are being exposed to significantly lower levels of some phthalates that were banned from children's articles in 2008, but exposures to other forms of these chemicals are rising steeply, according to a study.

Multihormone reverses metabolic damage of high calorie diet Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:56 AM PST A single molecule, which acts equally on the receptors of the metabolic hormones glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) improves body weight and diabetes through restored function of the anti-obesity hormone leptin. Importantly, scientists found that treatment of obese mice with this GLP-1/Glucagon co-agonist improves metabolism and body weight associated with restored function of the weight lowering hormone leptin, even in the continued presence of a high-fat, high-sugar diet.

Warping images using your PC graphics card Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:56 AM PST By projecting images onto contoured surfaces you get a virtual experience that puts you at the center of the action. Now, a quick and easy calibration technique could help the concept find a wider application beyond the planetarium.

Car manufacturing: Fast track towards mass production Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:56 AM PST New models of automobiles are initially manufactured in a pilot production run. A new procedure now makes it possible to transfer the parameters applied there directly to serial production.

Treating chronic kidney disease using clay minerals Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:56 AM PST Clay has healing powers. This natural product is destined to help treat chronic kidney disease: a well-tolerated agent based on clay minerals lowers patients' excessive phosphate levels.

Genetic sequence of 1,000 marine viruses published Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:54 AM PST A research team has published an article with the genetic sequence of over 1,000 marine viruses. This is the largest contribution in one article to the knowledge of marine viruses, in this case, from the Mediterranean.

Large landmasses existed 2.7 billion years ago Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:54 AM PST Some 71 percent of Earth's surface is covered by oceans and 29 percent by land. The question of when large landmasses emerged from the oceans has always been hotly debated. New investigations by geoscientists have shown that large land masses did indeed exist on Earth 2.7 billion years ago.

Women with a high economic status claim to have better sex, Spanish study shows Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:54 AM PST A higher socioeconomic status has been associated with a more satisfying sex life. An analysis based on the first Spanish National Sexual Health Survey, carried out in 2009, confirms that socioeconomic factors affect sexual satisfaction. People with a lower economic status claim to be less sexually satisfied, particularly women.

Virtual reality moral dilemmas show just how utilitarian we really are Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:54 AM PST "Moral" psychology has traditionally been studied by subjecting individuals to moral dilemmas, that is, hypothetical choices regarding typically dangerous scenarios, but it has rarely been validated "in the field". This limitation may have led to systematic bias in hypotheses regarding the cognitive bases of moral judgements. A study relying on virtual reality has demonstrated that, in real situations, we might be far more "utilitarian" than believed so far.

Microscopic fountain pen adds new functionality to AFM microscopy Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:54 AM PST The Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), which uses a fine-tipped probe to scan surfaces at the atomic scale, will soon be augmented with a chemical sensor. This involves the use of a hollow AFM cantilever, through which a liquid - in this case mercury - is passed under pressure. The droplet of mercury at the tip acts as a sensor.

Gold nanoparticles help to develop a new method for tracking viruses Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:54 AM PST Researchers have developed a novel method to study enterovirus structures and their functions. The method will help to obtain new information on trafficking of viruses in cells and tissues as well as on the mechanisms of virus opening inside cells. This new information is important for example for developing new antiviral drugs and vaccines.

First planet found around solar twin in star cluster Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:54 AM PST Astronomers have discovered three planets orbiting stars in the cluster Messier 67. Although more than one thousand planets outside the Solar System are now confirmed, only a handful have been found in star clusters. Remarkably one of these new exoplanets is orbiting a star that is a rare solar twin -- a star that is almost identical to the Sun in all respects.

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