ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Dinosaur fossils from China help researchers describe new 'Titan'
• Sea level variations escalating along eastern Gulf of Mexico coast
• Physicists create synthetic magnetic monopoles in the lab
• Breakthrough in rechargeable batteries: New twist to sodium-ion battery technology
• Triassic-age 'swamp monster': Rare female phytosaur skull found in West Texas more than 200 million years old
• Researchers trace path of bat killer: White Nose Syndrome
• 'Rogue' asteroids may be the norm
• Modeling buildings by the millions: Building codes in China tested for energy savings
• Blood test developed for devastating disease of boas, pythons
• Unknown aquatic sponge bacteria, a chemical factory
• Neanderthal lineages excavated from modern human genomes
• Neanderthals' genetic legacy: Humans inherited variants affecting disease risk, infertility, skin and hair characteristics
• First weather map of brown dwarf: Surface of nearest brown dwarf charted
• Running may be better than walking for breast cancer survival, research finds
• Resetting, understanding the metabolic clock
• Digital test for toxic genes: Computer algorithm identifies genes whose activation is lethal to bacteria
• Single gene separates queen from workers
• New subgroup of schizophrenia patients with motor disorders
• Large, deep magma chamber discovered below Kilauea volcano: Largely unknown internal plumbing of volcanoes
• Universe's early galaxies grew massive through collisions
• Researchers take magnetic waves for a spin
• Glass that bends but doesn't break: Natural forms inspire researchers to develop a technique to make glass less brittle
• Mammography beneficial for younger women, study finds
• Warmer winters may be pushing raptors northward
• Lighting up in uniform: Study looks at what makes soldiers reach for a pack of cigarettes or not
• Autism: Advances towards universal early screening
• Designer proteins provide new information about body's signal processes
• Scientists find new strategy to combat bacterial infections
• Poor breakfast in youth linked to metabolic syndrome in adulthood
• Imaging the development of diabetes: Visualization of a human autoimmune disease in animal models
• Discovery of mechanism by which sex hormone regulates aggressive behavior in male birds
• Protein modifies thyroid hormone levels according to body temperature
• 'Chameleon of the sea' reveals its secrets
• Finding points to possible new Parkinson's therapy
• Arsenic, mercury, selenium in Asian carp not a health concern to most, research shows
• Automated system could efficiently identify high-risk osteoporosis patients
• Skin cell response to environmental stimuli like viruses may predict type 1 diabetes
• Parents less likely to spank after reading briefly about its links to problems in children
• Researchers open door to new HIV therapy
• High-tech 'whole body' scan could improve treatment of bone marrow cancer
• Intranasal vaccine protects mice against West Nile infection
• Bacterial toxin potential trigger for multiple sclerosis
• Early rehabilitation important for recovery after severe traumatic brain injury
• Agent Orange linked to skin cancer risk, report suggests

Dinosaur fossils from China help researchers describe new 'Titan' Posted: 29 Jan 2014 03:48 PM PST Paleontologists have characterized a new dinosaur based on fossil remains found in northwestern China. The species, a plant-eating sauropod named Yongjinglong datangi, roamed during the Early Cretaceous period, more than 100 million years ago. This sauropod belonged to a group known as Titanosauria, members of which were among the largest living creatures to ever walk the earth.

Sea level variations escalating along eastern Gulf of Mexico coast Posted: 29 Jan 2014 01:55 PM PST Around the globe, sea levels typically rise a little in summer and fall again in winter. Now, a new study shows that, from the Florida Keys to southern Alabama, those fluctuations have been intensifying over the past 20 years.

Physicists create synthetic magnetic monopoles in the lab Posted: 29 Jan 2014 01:48 PM PST Researchers have created and photographed synthetic magnetic monopoles under lab conditions. The development lays the foundation for the underlying structure of the natural magnetic monopole – the detection of which would be a revolutionary event comparable to the discovery of the electron.

Breakthrough in rechargeable batteries: New twist to sodium-ion battery technology Posted: 29 Jan 2014 01:46 PM PST Engineers have made a breakthrough in rechargeable battery applications. They have demonstrated that a composite paper -- made of interleaved molybdenum disulfide and graphene nanosheets -- can be both an active material to efficiently store sodium atoms and a flexible current collector. The newly developed composite paper can be used as a negative electrode in sodium-ion batteries.

Triassic-age 'swamp monster': Rare female phytosaur skull found in West Texas more than 200 million years old Posted: 29 Jan 2014 11:56 AM PST In the dangerous waters of an ancient oxbow lake created by a flooded and unnamed meandering river, the female phytosaur died and sank to the bottom 205 million years ago. About 40 yards away the remains of a larger male also came to rest, and both disappeared in a tomb of soil and sediment. Evidence for the cause of their deaths and the rest of their bodies have vanished with time, but their skulls remained. After careful research, a paleontologist says he and others have discovered a new species of the Triassic-age monster in the wilds of West Texas.

Researchers trace path of bat killer: White Nose Syndrome Posted: 29 Jan 2014 10:51 AM PST As North American bats face a death toll approaching 7 million, scientists reveal new clues about their killer, White Nose Syndrome, or WNS. The researchers reveal that the deadly WNS fungus can likely survive in caves with or without the presence of bats and threatens the regional extinction of North American bats.

'Rogue' asteroids may be the norm Posted: 29 Jan 2014 10:51 AM PST A new map developed by astronomers charts the size, composition, and location of more than 100,000 asteroids throughout the solar system, and shows that rogue asteroids are actually more common than previously thought. Particularly in the solar system's main asteroid belt -- between Mars and Jupiter -- the researchers found a compositionally diverse mix of asteroids.

Modeling buildings by the millions: Building codes in China tested for energy savings Posted: 29 Jan 2014 10:50 AM PST China can build its way to a more energy efficient future -- one house, apartment and retail store at a time -- by improving the rules regulating these structures, according to a new study. Scientists have created a unique model that projects how much energy can be saved with changes to China's building energy codes.

Blood test developed for devastating disease of boas, pythons Posted: 29 Jan 2014 10:50 AM PST Researchers have developed a simple immune-based screening test to identify the presence of a debilitating and usually fatal disease that strikes boas and pythons in captivity as well as those sold to the pet trade worldwide.

Unknown aquatic sponge bacteria, a chemical factory Posted: 29 Jan 2014 10:50 AM PST A new, unknown strain of bacteria produces most of the bioactive substances that the stony sponge Theonella swinhoei exudes. An international research team describes these natural products, the associated genes and strain of bacteria in a new publication.

Neanderthal lineages excavated from modern human genomes Posted: 29 Jan 2014 10:49 AM PST A substantial fraction of the Neanderthal genome persists in modern human populations. A new approach for analyzing whole-genome sequencing data from 665 people from Europe and East Asia shows that more than 20 percent of the Neanderthal genome survives in the DNA of this contemporary group. Significant amounts of population-level DNA sequences might be obtained from extinct groups even in the absence of fossilized remains, because these archaic sequences might have been inherited by other individuals from whom scientists can gather genomic data.

Neanderthals' genetic legacy: Humans inherited variants affecting disease risk, infertility, skin and hair characteristics Posted: 29 Jan 2014 10:49 AM PST Remnants of Neanderthal DNA in modern humans are associated with genes affecting type 2 diabetes, Crohn's disease, lupus, biliary cirrhosis and smoking behavior. They also concentrate in genes that influence skin and hair characteristics. At the same time, Neanderthal DNA is conspicuously low in regions of the X chromosome and testes-specific genes.

First weather map of brown dwarf: Surface of nearest brown dwarf charted Posted: 29 Jan 2014 10:49 AM PST The European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope has been used to create the first ever map of the weather on the surface of the nearest brown dwarf to Earth. An international team has made a chart of the dark and light features on WISE J104915.57-531906.1B, which is informally known as Luhman 16B and is one of two recently discovered brown dwarfs forming a pair only six light-years from the Sun.

Running may be better than walking for breast cancer survival, research finds Posted: 29 Jan 2014 08:52 AM PST Previous studies have shown that breast cancer survivors who meet the current exercise recommendations (2.5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity per week) are at 25 percent lower risk for dying from breast cancer. New research suggests that exceeding the recommendations may provide greater protection, and that running may be better than walking.

Resetting, understanding the metabolic clock Posted: 29 Jan 2014 08:52 AM PST We've all heard about circadian rhythm, the roughly 24-hour oscillations of biological processes that occur in many living organisms. Yet for all its influence in many aspects of our lives -- from sleep to immunity and, particularly, metabolism -- relatively little is understood about the mammalian circadian rhythm and the interlocking processes that comprise this complex biological clock. Through intensive analysis and computer modeling, researchers have gained insight into factors that affect these oscillations, with results that could lend themselves to circadian regulation and pharmacological control.

Digital test for toxic genes: Computer algorithm identifies genes whose activation is lethal to bacteria Posted: 29 Jan 2014 08:52 AM PST Researchers have developed a new computer algorithm that predicts which metabolic genes are lethal to cells when overproduced. Their findings could help guide metabolic engineering to produce new chemicals and drugs in more cost-effective ways.

Single gene separates queen from workers Posted: 29 Jan 2014 08:51 AM PST Scientists have identified how a single gene in honey bees separates the queens from the workers. A team of scientists unraveled the gene's inner workings. The gene, which is responsible for leg and wing development, plays a crucial role in the evolution of bees' ability to carry pollen.

New subgroup of schizophrenia patients with motor disorders Posted: 29 Jan 2014 08:49 AM PST Researchers have identified a new subgroup of patients suffering from schizophrenia characterized by motor disorders.

Large, deep magma chamber discovered below Kilauea volcano: Largely unknown internal plumbing of volcanoes Posted: 29 Jan 2014 08:49 AM PST A new study has uncovered a previously unknown magma chamber deep below the most active volcano in the world -- Kilauea. This is the first geophysical observation that large magma chambers exist in the deeper parts of the volcano system.

Universe's early galaxies grew massive through collisions Posted: 29 Jan 2014 08:49 AM PST It has long puzzled scientists that there were enormously massive galaxies that were already old and no longer forming new stars in the very early universe, approximately 3 billion years after the Big Bang. Now new research shows that these massive galaxies were formed by explosive star formation that was set in motion by the collision of galaxies a few billion years after the Big Bang.

Researchers take magnetic waves for a spin Posted: 29 Jan 2014 08:46 AM PST Researchers have developed a method for creating and directing fast moving waves in magnetic fields that have the potential to enhance communication and information processing in computer chips and other consumer products.

Glass that bends but doesn't break: Natural forms inspire researchers to develop a technique to make glass less brittle Posted: 29 Jan 2014 08:45 AM PST Scientists have successfully taken inspiration from the mechanics of natural structures like seashells in order to significantly increase the toughness of glass.

Mammography beneficial for younger women, study finds Posted: 29 Jan 2014 08:45 AM PST Researchers have published new findings that mammography remains beneficial for women in their 40s. According to the study, women between ages 40 and 49 who underwent routine screening mammography were diagnosed at earlier stages with smaller tumors and were less likely to require chemotherapy.

Warmer winters may be pushing raptors northward Posted: 29 Jan 2014 08:44 AM PST Research shows that several raptor species appear to be responding to warmer winters by shortening their annual migration by as much as seven or eight kilometers (four to five miles) per year.

Lighting up in uniform: Study looks at what makes soldiers reach for a pack of cigarettes or not Posted: 29 Jan 2014 06:18 AM PST Is it possible to predict which soldier will start smoking and which one will maybe quit? Yes, say researchers in the US, especially when factors such as alcohol use, gender, a soldier's rank, war zone stressors and unit support are considered. A new study looks at smoking behavior in the military.

Autism: Advances towards universal early screening Posted: 29 Jan 2014 04:59 AM PST A new study shows improvement towards universal early screening for autism. The report also found that few approaches to early detection, such as screening during well-child visits, were evaluated to understand their impact on early diagnosis and access to services.

Designer proteins provide new information about body's signal processes Posted: 29 Jan 2014 04:59 AM PST Researchers can radically alter the properties of proteins by redesigning their chemical structure. New fundamental research based on designer proteins highlights important communication processes in the human body. In the long term, this new knowledge may lead to pharmaceuticals with fewer side effects.

Scientists find new strategy to combat bacterial infections Posted: 29 Jan 2014 04:58 AM PST Increasing numbers of bacteria are developing antibiotic resistance. This forms a significant challenge in the battle against bacterial infections. Scientists have identified a chemical substance with the potential of acting as a new drug to treat bacterial infections, particularly urinary tract infections. This candidate drug does not destroy pathogenic bacteria, but rather disarms them. The benefit of this new strategy is that useful bacteria are unharmed and there is a lower risk of the development and spread of resistance by bacteria.

Poor breakfast in youth linked to metabolic syndrome in adulthood Posted: 29 Jan 2014 04:58 AM PST It is often said that breakfast is important for our health, and a new study supports this claim. The study revealed that adolescents who ate poor breakfasts displayed a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome 27 years later, compared with those who ate more substantial breakfasts.

Imaging the development of diabetes: Visualization of a human autoimmune disease in animal models Posted: 29 Jan 2014 04:58 AM PST Researchers have developed a technique to study the inflammatory process that takes place in the pancreas during the natural development of type 1 diabetes, allowing for real-time and repeated non-invasive imaging of individual islets of Langerhans. The technique enables the visualization of a human autoimmune disease in animal models that gives us a way to watch the body´s response to new therapeutic strategies that attempt to save islets from this deadly immune system attack.

Discovery of mechanism by which sex hormone regulates aggressive behavior in male birds Posted: 29 Jan 2014 04:54 AM PST Researchers have discovered a hormonal mechanism for controlling aggressiveness in male birds. The team hope this may lead to a method of reducing aggressive behavior in humans.

Protein modifies thyroid hormone levels according to body temperature Posted: 28 Jan 2014 05:21 PM PST Research improves our understanding of the changes that occur during fevers; it also sheds light on the euphoric feeling some people get when in a hot bath or sauna.

'Chameleon of the sea' reveals its secrets Posted: 28 Jan 2014 05:20 PM PST Scientists hope new understanding of the natural nanoscale photonic device that enables a small marine animal to dynamically change its colors will inspire improved protective camouflage for soldiers on the battlefield.

Finding points to possible new Parkinson's therapy Posted: 28 Jan 2014 03:48 PM PST A new study shows that, when properly manipulated, a population of support cells found in the brain called astrocytes could provide a new and promising approach to treat Parkinson's disease. These findings, which were made using an animal model of the disease, demonstrate that a single therapy could simultaneously repair the multiple types of neurological damage caused by Parkinson's, providing an overall benefit that has not been achieved in other approaches.

Arsenic, mercury, selenium in Asian carp not a health concern to most, research shows Posted: 28 Jan 2014 01:34 PM PST Researchers have found that overall, concentrations of arsenic, selenium, and mercury in bighead and silver carp from the lower Illinois River do not appear to be a health concern for a majority of human consumers.

Automated system could efficiently identify high-risk osteoporosis patients Posted: 28 Jan 2014 12:40 PM PST An automated system that identifies high-risk osteoporosis patients being treated for fractures and can generate letters encouraging follow-up is an effective way to promote osteoporosis intervention and prevent future fractures, according researchers.

Skin cell response to environmental stimuli like viruses may predict type 1 diabetes Posted: 28 Jan 2014 12:39 PM PST Type 1 diabetes is a genetically-driven autoimmune disease of pancreatic beta-cells, whose origins remain unknown. Researchers have discovered that skin cells from patients with type 1 diabetes display abnormal activity triggered by immune response mechanisms to environmental stimuli like a viral infection.

Parents less likely to spank after reading briefly about its links to problems in children Posted: 28 Jan 2014 12:39 PM PST Parents who spank believe it's an effective way to discipline children. But extensive research has linked spanking to short- and long-term child behavior problems. New studies found that brief exposure to the research significantly altered parents' positive views toward spanking. "If we can educate people about corporal punishment, these studies show that we can in a very quick way begin changing attitudes."

Researchers open door to new HIV therapy Posted: 28 Jan 2014 12:39 PM PST A structural biologist and cell biologist have identified a new target for possible anti-AIDS drugs that would complement the current cocktail of drugs used to keep HIV in check. The target is a protein that interacts with an HIV protein, Nef, that slams the door to other viruses once a cell is infected.

High-tech 'whole body' scan could improve treatment of bone marrow cancer Posted: 28 Jan 2014 12:39 PM PST A pioneering scanning technique that can image a patient's entire body can reveal where cancer is affecting the bones and guide doctors in their choice of treatment, new research reveals.

Intranasal vaccine protects mice against West Nile infection Posted: 28 Jan 2014 12:39 PM PST Researchers have developed a nasal vaccine formulation that provides protective immunity against West Nile virus infection in mice after only two doses.

Bacterial toxin potential trigger for multiple sclerosis Posted: 28 Jan 2014 12:39 PM PST Researchers have added to the growing body of evidence that multiple sclerosis may be triggered by a toxin produced by common foodborne bacteria.

Early rehabilitation important for recovery after severe traumatic brain injury Posted: 28 Jan 2014 12:38 PM PST Early rehabilitation interventions seem to be essential for how well a patient recovers after a severe brain injury. It might even increase the chances for long-term survival, according to researchers.

Agent Orange linked to skin cancer risk, report suggests Posted: 28 Jan 2014 12:38 PM PST Vietnam War veterans with prior exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange may be at higher risk for certain types of skin cancer, suggests a new report.

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