ScienceDaily: Top News

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• NASA's IRIS spots its largest solar flare
• Will plug-in cars crash the electric grid? Not with newly proposed system
• If you think you have Alzheimer's, you just might be right, study suggests
• Tracking catalytic reactions in microreactors
• Oldest fortified settlement ever found in North America? Location of Fort Caroline may be in Georgia
• Curiosity Mars rover adds reverse driving for wheel protection
• NASA Mars Orbiter views Opportunity Rover on ridge
• Shocking behavior of a runaway star: High-speed encounter creates arc
• What has happened to the tsunami debris from Japan?
• Schizophrenics at greater risk of getting diseases
• Team sport compensates for estrogen loss
• Newly discovered marsupial the victim of fatal attraction: Due to stress hormone, males die before young are born
• Temperature and ecology: Rival Chilean barnacles keep competition cool
• Jupiter will be at its highest point in the sky for many years to come
• Early warning system for epidemics: Risk map correlates environmental, health data
• Significant increase in overdoses involving heroin in Kentucky, research finds
• Immune cells regulate blood stem cells, research shows
• The parasite that escaped out of Africa: Tracing origins of malaria parasite
• New York takes lead in state efforts to end ivory trade
• Sequencing hundreds of nuclear genes in sunflower family now possible
• Long-term daily multivitamin supplement use decreases cataract risk in men, study finds
• Changing view of bone marrow cells
• Neuron-generating brain region could hold promise for neurodegenerative therapies
• Surprising culprit found in cell recycling defect: Protein ends up in the wrong place
• Some ancient mysteries of leprosy uncovered
• Cortisol: Stress hormone linked to frailty

NASA's IRIS spots its largest solar flare Posted: 21 Feb 2014 12:31 PM PST On Jan. 28, 2014, NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, witnessed its strongest solar flare since it launched in the summer of 2013. Solar flares are bursts of x-rays and light that stream out into space, but scientists don't yet know the fine details of what sets them off.

Will plug-in cars crash the electric grid? Not with newly proposed system Posted: 21 Feb 2014 12:04 PM PST The world's growing fleet of plug-in cars will put strain on aging electrical distribution systems. Now research presents a solution: to prevent the electric grid from crashing, break-up requests for power from each car into packets. The new tool is efficient, fair, and protects drivers' privacy and freedom.

If you think you have Alzheimer's, you just might be right, study suggests Posted: 21 Feb 2014 08:41 AM PST A correlation between self-reported incidence of memory loss and development of cognitive memory impairment later in life has been identified through a new study. The results are meaningful because it might help identify people who are at risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease sooner. "If the memory and thinking lapses people notice themselves could be early markers of risk for Alzheimer's disease, we might eventually be able to intervene earlier in the aging process to postpone and/or reduce the effects of cognitive memory impairment," the authors note.

Tracking catalytic reactions in microreactors Posted: 21 Feb 2014 08:41 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated a technique that for the first time allows the catalytic reactivity inside a microreactor to be mapped in high resolution from start to finish. This technique opens a more effective and efficient synthesis of pharmaceutical drugs and other flow reactor chemical products.

Oldest fortified settlement ever found in North America? Location of Fort Caroline may be in Georgia Posted: 21 Feb 2014 08:12 AM PST In an announcement likely to rewrite the book on early colonization of the New World, two researchers have proposed a location for the oldest fortified settlement ever found in North America. They believe that the legendary Fort Caroline, a long-sought fort built by the French in 1564, is located near the mouth of the Altamaha River in southeast Georgia.

Curiosity Mars rover adds reverse driving for wheel protection Posted: 21 Feb 2014 08:07 AM PST Terrain that NASA's Curiosity Mars rover is now crossing is as smooth as team members had anticipated based on earlier images from orbit. On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the rover covered 329 feet (100.3 meters), the mission's first long trek that used reverse driving and its farthest one-day advance of any kind in more than three months.

NASA Mars Orbiter views Opportunity Rover on ridge Posted: 21 Feb 2014 08:04 AM PST A new image from a telescopic camera orbiting Mars shows NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity at work on "Murray Ridge," without any new impact craters nearby.

Shocking behavior of a runaway star: High-speed encounter creates arc Posted: 21 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST Roguish runaway stars can have a big impact on their surroundings as they plunge through the Milky Way galaxy. Their high-speed encounters shock the galaxy, creating arcs, as seen in a newly released image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.

What has happened to the tsunami debris from Japan? Posted: 21 Feb 2014 07:39 AM PST The amount of debris in the ocean is growing exponentially, becoming more and more hazardous and harmful to marine life and therefore to our ocean food source. Measuring and tracking the movements of such debris are still in their infancy. The driftage generated by the tragic 2011 tsunami in Japan gave scientists a unique chance to learn about the effects of the ocean and wind on floating materials as they move across the North Pacific Ocean.

Schizophrenics at greater risk of getting diseases Posted: 21 Feb 2014 07:39 AM PST People suffering from schizophrenia have an increased risk of contracting autoimmune diseases, especially if they have suffered from a severe infection, new research based on data sets covering the majority of the Danish population shows. With the aid of these large data sets, the researchers have been able to show certain correlations with great statistical certainty, but the study does not provide a definitive explanation for why schizophrenics have such an increased risk of contracting these diseases, except to suggest that lifestyle, genetics and the disease itself may contribute to the complicated situation.

Team sport compensates for estrogen loss Posted: 21 Feb 2014 07:39 AM PST When women enter menopause, their estrogen levels taper. This increases their risk of cardiovascular disease. New research shows that interval-based team sport can make up for this estrogen loss as it improves their conditions, reduces blood pressure and thereby protects the cardiovascular system.

Newly discovered marsupial the victim of fatal attraction: Due to stress hormone, males die before young are born Posted: 21 Feb 2014 07:39 AM PST A highly sexed mouse-like marsupial in Queensland's Springbrook National Park, Australia, has been discovered by a mammalogist. The rare, Black-tailed Antechinus is a rare, mouse-like marsupial with a deadly mating habit. "A single female's brood of young will typically be sired by several fathers. But during mating, stress hormone levels rise dramatically, eventually causing the males' bodies to shut down. The males all die before their young are born," found the researchers.

Temperature and ecology: Rival Chilean barnacles keep competition cool Posted: 21 Feb 2014 07:39 AM PST A lot of research shows that temperature can strongly influence species interactions and sometimes shape the appearance and functioning of biological communities. That's why a newly published finding that changes in temperature did not alter the competitive balance of power between two rival species of Chilean barnacles is an ecological surprise.

Jupiter will be at its highest point in the sky for many years to come Posted: 21 Feb 2014 07:38 AM PST In just over a week, Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, will be at its highest point in the sky for many years to come. Near their closest to Earth, Jupiter and its moons will appear obvious in the sky, offering fantastic opportunities to view the giant planet through a telescope.

Early warning system for epidemics: Risk map correlates environmental, health data Posted: 21 Feb 2014 07:38 AM PST The environment has an impact on our health. Preventing epidemics relies on activating the right counter-measures, and scientists are now trying to find out how better use of forecasting can help. The EU's EO2HEAVEN project developed a risk map for correlating environmental and health data in order to identify where a disease may break out next.

Significant increase in overdoses involving heroin in Kentucky, research finds Posted: 21 Feb 2014 07:37 AM PST Emergency department overdose visits involving heroin climbed 197 percent, and heroin-related deaths climbed 207 percent in Kentucky in 2012, while benzodiazepines were associated with the highest number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations, according to new analysis. The spike in drug abuse and overdoses involving heroin is not unique to Kentucky. According to American data, the number of heroin users increased by up to 80 percent from 2007 to 2012. Many experts suspect a connection between increased heroin use and decreasing non-medical prescription opiate abuse.

Immune cells regulate blood stem cells, research shows Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:38 AM PST During an infection, the blood stem cells must complete two tasks: they must first recognize that more blood cells have to be produced and, secondly, they must recognize what kind are required. Immune cells control the blood stem cells in the bone marrow and therefore also the body's own defenses, new research shows. The findings could lead the way to new forms of therapy, such as for bone marrow diseases like leukemia.

The parasite that escaped out of Africa: Tracing origins of malaria parasite Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:37 AM PST An international team has traced the origin of the second-worst malaria parasite of humans to Africa. The closest genetic relatives of human Plasmodium vivax were found only in Asian macaques, leading researchers to believe that P. vivax originated in Asia. This study overturns that, finding that wild-living apes in central Africa are widely infected with parasites that, genetically, are nearly identical to human P. vivax.

New York takes lead in state efforts to end ivory trade Posted: 20 Feb 2014 04:33 PM PST A bill introduced into the New York State Legislature proposing a sweeping ban on the sale of ivory in New York State, Assembly bill A8824, has been welcomed by the Wildlife Conservation Society. "This legislation is a key component to global efforts to stopping the killing, stopping the trafficking, and stopping the demand of elephant ivory. But much more needs to be done, and we are hopeful that New York will be helping lead the charge to protect Africa's elephants," the WCS states.

Sequencing hundreds of nuclear genes in sunflower family now possible Posted: 20 Feb 2014 01:13 PM PST An efficient approach for sequencing hundreds of nuclear genes across members of the Compositae (sunflower family) has now been developed, to better-resolve phylogenetic relationships within the family, as well as a bioinformatic workflow for processing and analyzing the resulting sequence data. This method can be applied to any taxonomic group of interest and could serve as a model for phylogenetic investigations of other major plant groups.

Long-term daily multivitamin supplement use decreases cataract risk in men, study finds Posted: 20 Feb 2014 01:12 PM PST Long-term daily multivitamin supplement use may lower cataract risk in men, according to a study of nearly 15,000 male physicians. Half took a common daily multivitamin, as well as vitamin C, vitamin E and beta carotene supplements. The other half took a placebo. The researchers followed the participants to identify how many participants in each group developed new cases of two common eye diseases: cataract and age-related macular degeneration. Results showed a 9 percent decrease in risk for those that took the supplements.

Changing view of bone marrow cells Posted: 20 Feb 2014 10:24 AM PST Using a novel microfluidic technique, researchers have shown that blood stem cells might be more actively involved in battles against infection. Rather than simply replenishing immune cells after they become depleted, new research shows that blood stem cells sense danger signals directly and quickly produce new immune cells to join the fight.

Neuron-generating brain region could hold promise for neurodegenerative therapies Posted: 20 Feb 2014 10:21 AM PST Adult humans continuously produce new neurons in the striatum and these neurons could play an important role in possibly finding new treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, according to a study. To detect the birth of new neurons in the striatum, the authors used a method that measures carbon-14 found in human DNA as a result of above-ground nuclear testing. The discovery may open up new avenues to treat diseases and disorders that affect the striatum.

Surprising culprit found in cell recycling defect: Protein ends up in the wrong place Posted: 20 Feb 2014 10:20 AM PST To remain healthy, the body's cells must properly manage their waste recycling centers. Problems with these compartments, known as lysosomes, lead to a number of debilitating and sometimes lethal conditions. An unusual cause of the lysosomal storage disorder called mucolipidosis III, has been identified, at least in a subset of patients. Unlike most genetic diseases that involve dysfunctional or missing proteins, the culprit is a normal protein that ends up in the wrong place.

Some ancient mysteries of leprosy uncovered Posted: 20 Feb 2014 10:20 AM PST Research is finally unearthing some of the ancient mysteries behind leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, which has plagued humankind throughout history. The new research findings suggest that the disease might be the oldest human-specific infection, with roots that likely stem back millions of years. There are still hundreds of thousands of new cases of leprosy worldwide each year, but the disease is rare in the United States, with 100-200 new cases annually. Leprosy is known for attacking a patient's skin and nerves. Effective antimicrobial treatments exist today. However, when misdiagnosed or untreated, the disease can lead to extensive skin lesions, deformities in the patient's face and extremities, disabilities, and even death. Leprosy carries a social stigma and diagnosis is frequently and notoriously delayed.

Cortisol: Stress hormone linked to frailty Posted: 20 Feb 2014 10:13 AM PST Lower morning and higher evening cortisol levels contribute to frailty in older individuals, according to new research. Frailty confers a high risk for institutionalization and increased risk of mortality and is characterized by unintentional weight loss, feelings of exhaustion and fatigue, physical inactivity, slow gait speed and low grip strength. Neuroendocrine function, including cortisol secretion, is thought to be involved in the etiology of frailty, but until now the underlying biological mechanisms have not been well understood.

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