ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Coral Fish Biodiversity Loss: Humankind could be responsible
• A sharp eye for molecular fingerprints: Broad absorption spectra recorded on microsecond scale with two laser frequency combs
• Drilling in concrete, without a sound?
• Physicists pave the way for more energy efficient technology
• New fast and furious black hole found
• Why and how anti-retroviral therapy works even against HIV cell-to-cell transmission
• Early atherosclerotic plaques in vessel wall regress completely when cholesterol levels are lowered
• High-calorie diet could slow progression of motor neuron disease (ALS), study finds
• Fossilized human feces from 14th century contain antibiotic resistance genes
• Big step for next-generation fuel cells and electrolyzers
• New study reveals evolution at work: Analyses elucidate a part of the brain particular to primates
• Fat or flat: Getting galaxies into shape
• Implantable magnetic 'bracelet' brings relief to GERD sufferers
• Nasty parasitic worm, common in wildlife, now infecting U.S. cats
• 'Shark's eye' view: Witnessing the life of a top predator
• Dual role of brain glycogen revealed by researchers
• Fragile X syndrome: Trigger for most common form of intellectual disability and autism uncovered
• Deadly immune 'storm' caused by emergent flu infections
• 10,000 years on the Bering Land Bridge: Ancestors of Native Americans paused en route from Asia
• Bisphenol A (BPA) at very low levels can adversely affect developing organs in primates
• Prenatal Nicotine Exposure May Lead to ADHD in Future Generations
• Supplement added to standard diet improves health, prolongs life in mice
• Closest, brightest supernova in decades is also a little weird
• Caesarean babies more likely to become overweight as adults, analysis finds

Coral Fish Biodiversity Loss: Humankind could be responsible Posted: 28 Feb 2014 05:07 AM PST Literal biodiversity reservoirs, coral reefs and associated ecosystems are in grave danger from natural and human-made disturbances. The latest World Resources Institute assessment is alarming with 75% of coral reefs reported as endangered worldwide, a figure that may reach 100% by 2050. The numbers are concerning, particularly as coral reefs provide sustenance and economic benefits for many developing countries and fish biodiversity on coral reefs partly determines the biomass available for human consumption.

A sharp eye for molecular fingerprints: Broad absorption spectra recorded on microsecond scale with two laser frequency combs Posted: 28 Feb 2014 05:06 AM PST Scientists have developed a new method of real-time identification and quantification of molecular species. How to retrieve greenhouse gas concentrations in earth atmosphere or to test fundamental laws of quantum mechanics? By measuring the spectrum of light interacting with matter, i.e. measuring the intensity of light transmitted through a medium as a function of its color, it can be done. Each molecule leaves its fingerprint: characteristic absorptions, which make it possible to unambiguously identify it and measure its concentration.

Drilling in concrete, without a sound? Posted: 28 Feb 2014 05:06 AM PST If you choose the right equipment, drilling in concrete won't bother people in neighboring rooms. Anybody who has been in a building where construction work is going on knows how the sound of hammer drills and diamond saws can get on one's nerves. Even if you are some distance from the work site, the sound and vibrations are propagated in such a way that it feels as if they are going on right above – and sometimes even inside – your head.

Physicists pave the way for more energy efficient technology Posted: 28 Feb 2014 05:06 AM PST Scientists have paved the way for a new class of  magnetic materials and devices with improved performance and power efficiency. Magnetic materials are currently used to store almost all digital information. However, with information processing and storage now making up a significant fraction of the world's energy consumption, continuing improvements in energy efficiency will require new technologies and materials.

New fast and furious black hole found Posted: 28 Feb 2014 05:06 AM PST Astronomers have been studying nearby galaxy M83 and have found a new superpowered small black hole, named MQ1, the first object of its kind to be studied in this much detail. Astronomers have found a few compact objects that are as powerful as MQ1, but have not been able to work out the size of the black hole contained within them until now.

Why and how anti-retroviral therapy works even against HIV cell-to-cell transmission Posted: 27 Feb 2014 04:12 PM PST A new study tested a panel of anti-HIV drugs for their ability to suppress cell-to-cell transmission of the virus. The results reveal differences between different drugs, explain why and how anti-retroviral therapy does work, and have implications for the prevention of drug resistance as well as the development of new effective anti-HIV drugs.

Early atherosclerotic plaques in vessel wall regress completely when cholesterol levels are lowered Posted: 27 Feb 2014 04:11 PM PST Early but not advanced forms of atherosclerotic plaques in the vessel wall disappear when the levels of 'bad' cholesterol are lowered, according to a study in mice. The findings indicate that preventative cholesterol-lowering treatment could prevent more advanced, clinically relevant plaque to develop. Almost half of all deaths worldwide are caused by strokes and heart attacks. The main underlying cause is atherosclerosis, where fat accumulates in the blood vessel walls in the so-called plaques. Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease where advanced and unstable plaques develop over time. When these plaques burst a blood clot is created, which in turn could cause stroke or heart attack, depending on how and where the blood clot is formed.

High-calorie diet could slow progression of motor neuron disease (ALS), study finds Posted: 27 Feb 2014 04:11 PM PST A high-carbohydrate, high-calorie diet could delay the progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease or Lou Gehrig's disease, according to a phase 2 study. ALS is a rapidly progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disorder affecting the nerve cells that control muscle movement (motor neurons). Patients gradually lose the ability to control the body's muscles, including the muscles which control breathing. This leads to respiratory failure and death on average about 3 years after patients are diagnosed.

Fossilized human feces from 14th century contain antibiotic resistance genes Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:45 PM PST A team of French investigators has discovered viruses containing genes for antibiotic resistance in a fossilized fecal sample from 14th century Belgium, long before antibiotics were used in medicine.

Big step for next-generation fuel cells and electrolyzers Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:45 PM PST Researchers have discovered a highly promising new class of nanocatalysts for fuel cells and water-alkali electrolyzers that are an order of magnitude higher in activity than the target set by the US Department Of Energy for 2017.

New study reveals evolution at work: Analyses elucidate a part of the brain particular to primates Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:45 PM PST New research reveals some very unique evolutionary innovations in the primate brain. Scientists described the role of microRNAs -- so named because they contain only 22 nucleotides -- in a portion of the brain called the outer subventricular zone. These microRNAs belong to a special category of noncoding genes, which prevent the formation of proteins.

Fat or flat: Getting galaxies into shape Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:43 PM PST Astronomers have discovered what makes some spiral galaxies fat and bulging while others are flat discs -- and it's all about how fast they spin. The researchers found that fast-rotating spiral galaxies are flat and thin while equally sized galaxies that rotate slowly are fatter. One of the researchers said the way galaxies are formed looks a bit similar to a carousel made of an elastic disc.

Implantable magnetic 'bracelet' brings relief to GERD sufferers Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:38 PM PST An innovative laparoscopic procedure that implants a ring of magnetic beads to help prevent acid reflux in patients who suffer from Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is the latest tool surgeons have to treat the disease. Using a small, flexible band of titanium beads with magnetic cores, surgeons implant the band around the patient's esophagus just above the stomach. The magnetic attraction between the beads strengthens the weakened esophageal sphincter's barrier function.

Nasty parasitic worm, common in wildlife, now infecting U.S. cats Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:38 PM PST When veterinarians found half-foot-long worms living in their feline patients, they had discovered something new: The worms, Dracunculus insignis, had never before been seen in cats. The worms can grow to almost a foot long and must emerge from its host to lay eggs that hatch into larvae. It forms a blister-like protrusion in an extremity, such as a leg, from which it slowly emerges over the course of days to deposit its young into the water.

'Shark's eye' view: Witnessing the life of a top predator Posted: 27 Feb 2014 11:26 AM PST Instruments strapped onto and ingested by sharks are revealing novel insights into how one of the most feared and least understood ocean predators swims, eats and lives. Scientists are also piloting a project using instruments ingested by sharks and other top ocean predators, like tuna, to gain new awareness into these animals' feeding habits. The instruments, which use electrical measurements to track ingestion and digestion of prey, can help researchers understand where, when and how much sharks and other predators are eating, and what they are feasting on.

Dual role of brain glycogen revealed by researchers Posted: 27 Feb 2014 11:26 AM PST Key questions regarding the activity of glycogen in neurons are answered in two recently published articles, building on years of research and publications. The authors postulated that glycogen is a lifeguard under oxygen depletion, a condition that leads the brains to shut down and that often occurs at birth and in cerebral infarctions in adults, which leads to severe consequences, such a cerebral paralysis. Their results are the first evidence that neurons constantly store glycogen by accumulating small amounts and using it as quickly as it becomes available. The beneficial and toxic roles of brain glycogen continue to be the main focus on ongoing research.

Fragile X syndrome: Trigger for most common form of intellectual disability and autism uncovered Posted: 27 Feb 2014 11:26 AM PST The most common genetic form of mental retardation and autism occurs because of a mechanism that shuts off the gene associated with the disease, new research concludes. The findings also show that a drug that blocks this silencing mechanism can prevent fragile X syndrome -- suggesting similar therapy is possible for 20 other diseases that range from mental retardation to multisystem failure. Fragile X syndrome occurs mostly in boys, causing intellectual disability as well as telltale physical, behavioral and emotional traits.

Deadly immune 'storm' caused by emergent flu infections Posted: 27 Feb 2014 11:22 AM PST Scientists have mapped key elements of a severe immune overreaction -— a "cytokine storm" -— that can both sicken and kill patients who are infected with certain strains of flu virus. A cytokine storm is an overproduction of immune cells and their activating compounds (cytokines), which, in a flu infection, is often associated with a surge of activated immune cells into the lungs. The resulting lung inflammation and fluid buildup can lead to respiratory distress and can be contaminated by a secondary bacterial pneumonia -- often enhancing the mortality in patients.

10,000 years on the Bering Land Bridge: Ancestors of Native Americans paused en route from Asia Posted: 27 Feb 2014 11:18 AM PST Genetic and environmental evidence indicates that after the ancestors of Native Americans left Asia, they spent 10,000 years on a land bridge that once linked Siberia and Alaska. Archaeological evidence is lacking because it drowned when sea levels rose.

Bisphenol A (BPA) at very low levels can adversely affect developing organs in primates Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:48 AM PST Bisphenol A is a chemical that is used in a wide variety of consumer products and exhibits hormone-like properties. Fetuses, infants, children or adults exposed to the chemical have been shown to exhibit numerous abnormalities, including cancer, as well as reproductive, immune and brain-behavior problems. Now, researchers have determined that daily exposure to very low concentrations of Bisphenol A by pregnant females also can cause fetal abnormalities in primates.

Prenatal Nicotine Exposure May Lead to ADHD in Future Generations Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:47 AM PST Prenatal exposure to nicotine could manifest as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children born a generation later, according to a new study. Researchers have found evidence that ADHD associated with nicotine can be passed across generations. In other words, your child's ADHD might be an environmentally induced health condition inherited from your grandmother, who may have smoked cigarettes during pregnancy a long time ago. And the fact that you never smoked may be irrelevant for your child's ADHD.

Supplement added to standard diet improves health, prolongs life in mice Posted: 27 Feb 2014 09:52 AM PST Activating a protein called Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) extends lifespan, delays the onset of age-related metabolic diseases, and improves general health in mice. The findings point to a potentially promising strategy for improving health and longevity. SIRT1 is known to play an important role in maintaining metabolic balance in multiple tissues, and studies in various organisms have shown that activating the protein can lead to many health benefits. Also, drugs that increase SIRT1 activity have been found to slow the onset of aging and delay age-associated diseases in several animal models.

Closest, brightest supernova in decades is also a little weird Posted: 27 Feb 2014 06:24 AM PST The closest and brightest supernova in decades, SN 2014J, brightens faster than expected for Type Ia supernovae, the exploding stars used to measure cosmic distances, according to astronomers. Another recent supernova also brightened faster than expected, suggesting that there is unsuspected new physics going on inside these exploding stars. The finding may also help physicists improve their use of these supernovae to measure cosmic distance.

Caesarean babies more likely to become overweight as adults, analysis finds Posted: 26 Feb 2014 02:44 PM PST Babies born by caesarean section are more likely to be overweight or obese as adults, according to a new analysis that is based on over 38,000 individuals. The odds of being overweight or obese are 26 per cent higher for adults born by caesarean section than those born by vaginal delivery, the study found. The authors say they cannot be certain that caesarean delivery causes higher body weight, as the association may be explained by other factors that weren't recorded in the data they analyzed, however, the results are interesting enough to encourage further study.

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