ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Insights on plate tectonics, the forces behind earthquakes, volcanoes
• Range of electrical frequencies that help heal chronic wounds tested by researchers
• Team models photosynthesis, finds room for improvement
• Research tests which nano system works best in killing cancer cells
• What makes flying snakes such gifted gliders?
• Quality of life improves with minimally invasive surgery for low back pain
• Fish bioluminescence: Distinctive flashing patterns might facilitate fish mating
• Solar power: Making it less expensive and more efficient
• Native American city on the Mississippi was America's first 'melting pot'
• Artificial photosynthesis: Key intermediate steps in artificial photosynthesis reaction identified
• Virtual bees help to unravel complex causes of colony decline
• Standard-candle supernovae are still standard, but why?
• Soils controls atmospheric hydrogen
• Virtually all red dwarf stars have at least one planet in orbit around them
• 30,000 year-old giant virus found in Siberia
• Not even freezing cold stops invasive species in high altitudes
• Quantum effects: Patterns of interfering massive particles
• Hot on the trail of cellular metabolism, early detection of disease
• Pulling polymers leads to new insights into their mechanical behavior
• Complex plant behavior? In fight against parasites, Barberry sacrifices seeds depending on survival chance
• Unmasking the secrets of the extinct moa
• Outbursts of anger linked to greater risk of heart attacks and strokes
• Oceanographer refutes claims that climate change is slowing pace of Gulf Stream
• Binge drinking is harmful to older drinkers, may be hidden by weekly average
• Yeast model reveals alzheimer's drug candidate and its mechanism of action
• 'Carbohydrates in a coal mine' for found cancer detection
• New approach to breast reconstruction surgery reduces opioid painkiller use, hospital stays
• Particle beam cancer therapy: The promise and challenges
• Blocking key signaling chemical in the immune system stalls chronic inflammation, insulin resistance tied to obesity
• Entomologists update definitions to tackle resistance to biotech crops, pesticides

Insights on plate tectonics, the forces behind earthquakes, volcanoes Posted: 04 Mar 2014 08:35 AM PST The Earth's outer layer is made up of a series of moving, interacting plates whose motion at the surface generates earthquakes, creates volcanoes and builds mountains. Geoscientists have long sought to understand the plates' fundamental properties and the mechanisms that cause them to move and drift, and the questions have become the subjects of lively debate. A new study is a significant step toward answering those questions.

Range of electrical frequencies that help heal chronic wounds tested by researchers Posted: 04 Mar 2014 08:35 AM PST Hard-to-heal wounds, like diabetic ulcers, fester because of insufficient blood supply at the wound site. However, the application of an electrical stimulus can promote the growth of blood vessels, and new research examines the best stimulus parameters -- such as frequency and magnitude -- for successful therapy.

Team models photosynthesis, finds room for improvement Posted: 04 Mar 2014 08:35 AM PST Teaching crop plants to concentrate carbon dioxide in their leaves could increase photosynthetic efficiency by 60 percent and yields by as much as 40 percent, researchers report in a new study. The team used a computer model to simulate how adding genes from algae known as cyanobacteria might influence photosynthetic efficiency in plants.

Research tests which nano system works best in killing cancer cells Posted: 04 Mar 2014 08:35 AM PST Four iron-oxide nanoparticle systems were tested by scientists to see which, when heated, would likely work best as a tool for targeting cancer cells. In systematically studying the distinct magnetized nanoparticle systems with different structural and magnetic properties, the research team found that an unconfined nanoparticle system, which used an electromagnetic field to generate heat, was best able to transfer heat absorbed by cancer cells.

What makes flying snakes such gifted gliders? Posted: 04 Mar 2014 08:31 AM PST They slither, they hiss, they… fly? Don't let their wingless bodies fool you —- some snakes can glide as far as 100 feet through the air, jumping off tree branches and rotating their ribs to flatten their bodies and move from side to side. New research investigates the workings behind the flight and whether they can be applied to mechanical issues.

Quality of life improves with minimally invasive surgery for low back pain Posted: 04 Mar 2014 06:51 AM PST Patients who have a low back surgery called minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, end up better off in many ways than patients who have more invasive surgery to alleviate debilitating pain. Quality of life improvements include smaller incisions, and reduced chronic low back pain, hospital stays, complications and scarring. The minimally invasive surgery can also can lower costs and infection rates compared with more invasive, open procedures.

Fish bioluminescence: Distinctive flashing patterns might facilitate fish mating Posted: 04 Mar 2014 06:51 AM PST Scientists have shown for the first time that deep-sea fishes that use bioluminescence for communication are diversifying into different species faster than other glowing fishes that use light for camouflage. The new research indicates that bioluminescence -- a phenomenon in which animals generate visible light through a chemical reaction -- could promote communication and mating in the open ocean, an environment with few barriers to reproduction.

Solar power: Making it less expensive and more efficient Posted: 04 Mar 2014 06:50 AM PST Researchers are reporting early results on a way to make solar-powered panels in lights, calculators and roofs lighter, less expensive, more flexible (therefore less breakable) and more efficient.

Native American city on the Mississippi was America's first 'melting pot' Posted: 04 Mar 2014 06:50 AM PST New evidence establishes for the first time that Cahokia, a sprawling, pre-Columbian city situated at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, hosted a sizable population of immigrants. Cahokia was an early experiment in urban life, researchers say.

Artificial photosynthesis: Key intermediate steps in artificial photosynthesis reaction identified Posted: 04 Mar 2014 06:50 AM PST The first direct, temporally resolved observations of intermediate steps in water oxidation using cobalt oxide, an Earth-abundant solid catalyst, revealed kinetic bottlenecks whose elimination would help boost the efficiency of artificial photosynthesis systems.

Virtual bees help to unravel complex causes of colony decline Posted: 04 Mar 2014 06:48 AM PST Scientists have created an ingenious computer model that simulates a honey bee colony over the course of several years. The model was created to investigate the losses of honeybee colonies that have been reported in recent years and to identify the best course of action for improving honeybee health.

Standard-candle supernovae are still standard, but why? Posted: 04 Mar 2014 06:48 AM PST Scientists believed that Type Ia supernovae, the best cosmological standard candles, are similar in brightness because they suffer thermonuclear explosions when the white dwarf stars that are their progenitors reach 1.4 solar masses, the Chandrasekhar mass. Now astronomers have shown that white dwarfs exploding as Type Ia supernovae have a range of masses. Their light-curve widths are directly proportional to the mass involved in the explosion.

Soils controls atmospheric hydrogen Posted: 04 Mar 2014 06:48 AM PST Researchers are helping to clear up an enduring mystery regarding the composition of the Earth's atmosphere. In recent decades it was found that around four-fifths of all hydrogen released into the air is rapidly removed through soil activity, but exactly what is recycling it, and how, has remained unclear. Now researchers have discovered the microbial soil processes that help ensure that the explosive gas hydrogen remains at trace levels.

Virtually all red dwarf stars have at least one planet in orbit around them Posted: 04 Mar 2014 04:14 AM PST Three new planets classified as habitable-zone super-Earths are amongst eight new planets discovered orbiting nearby red dwarf stars. A new study identifies that virtually all red dwarfs, which make up at least three quarters of the stars in the Universe, have planets orbiting them. The research also suggests that habitable-zone super-Earth planets (where liquid water could exist and making them possible candidates to support life) orbit around at least a quarter of the red dwarfs in the Sun's own neighbourhood.

30,000 year-old giant virus found in Siberia Posted: 04 Mar 2014 04:14 AM PST A new type of giant virus called "Pithovirus" has been discovered in the frozen ground of extreme north-eastern Siberia. Buried underground, this giant virus, which is harmless to humans and animals, has survived being frozen for more than 30,000 years. Although its size and amphora shape are reminiscent of Pandoravirus, analysis of its genome and replication mechanism proves that Pithovirus is very different. This work brings to three the number of distinct families of giant viruses.

Not even freezing cold stops invasive species in high altitudes Posted: 04 Mar 2014 04:14 AM PST They hitchhike with us under the soles of our shoes and muddy car tires. Harsh and cold climates don't seem to stop alien plants from establishing themselves in high altitudes, where they now successfully penetrate the alpine vegetation. Mountains have so far been seen as the last natural ports of refuge, where alien species should have difficulties to establish themselves due to the harsh climate. They have been thought to be outnumbered by alpine plants adapted to survive cold, wind and short summers.

Quantum effects: Patterns of interfering massive particles Posted: 04 Mar 2014 04:12 AM PST A new study examines the nature of exchange interactions between identical particles, which only occur at the quantum level. Two-particle interference has been the focus of many studies, specifically in quantum optics with photons. However, interference between two massive, identical particles is not so well understood. Scientists have now uncovered a counterintuitive result whereby particles called bosons do not behave as expected-they are overlapping, and not interfering-due to the combination of interference and so-called exchange interaction. The latter is a quantum mechanical effect that alters their symmetry when identical particles are exchanged.

Hot on the trail of cellular metabolism, early detection of disease Posted: 04 Mar 2014 04:12 AM PST Cells have a metabolism that can be altered according to its function and requirements. If cellular metabolism is disturbed, it can lead to disease of the entire organism. Researchers have discovered that the uncoupling proteins UCP2 and UPC4 are involved in different types of cellular metabolism. The proteins provide information about the condition of cells. As a result, cell alterations can now be detected much earlier than was thus far possible.

Pulling polymers leads to new insights into their mechanical behavior Posted: 04 Mar 2014 04:12 AM PST Scientists have pulled up isolated molecular chains from a gold surface, using the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM). The observed signal provides insight into the detachment force and binding energy of molecules. Atomic force microscopy is a method normally used for imaging matter with very high resolution. The sharp tip of the microscope is used to scan the surface line by line. The resolution is so high, that single atoms can be seen.

Complex plant behavior? In fight against parasites, Barberry sacrifices seeds depending on survival chance Posted: 04 Mar 2014 04:12 AM PST Plants appear to be able to make complex decisions. At least this is what scientists have concluded from their investigations on Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), which is able to abort its own seeds to prevent parasite infestation. The results are the first ecological evidence of complex behavior in plants. They indicate that this species has a structural memory, is able to differentiate between inner and outer conditions as well as anticipate future risks, scientists say.

Unmasking the secrets of the extinct moa Posted: 03 Mar 2014 06:14 PM PST Researchers have used a DNA barcoding technique in an attempt to clarify the number of species which existed of the extinct New Zealand moa. The challenges of understanding extinct fauna can be formidable and particularly so when it comes to this ancient bird.

Outbursts of anger linked to greater risk of heart attacks and strokes Posted: 03 Mar 2014 06:13 PM PST Outbursts of anger may trigger heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems in the two hours immediately afterwards, according to the first study to systematically evaluate previous research into the link between the extreme emotion and all cardiovascular outcomes. The researchers conclude: conclude: "Given the lessons we have learned from trying to treat depression after MI, treating anger in isolation is unlikely to be impactful. Instead, a broader and more comprehensive approach to treating acute and chronic mental stress, and its associated psychological stressors, is likely to be needed to heal a hostile heart."

Oceanographer refutes claims that climate change is slowing pace of Gulf Stream Posted: 03 Mar 2014 06:12 PM PST Several recent studies have generated a great deal of publicity for their claims that the warming climate is slowing the pace of the Gulf Stream. But 20 years of measurements find no evidence that the Gulf Stream is decreasing in strength, researchers report.

Binge drinking is harmful to older drinkers, may be hidden by weekly average Posted: 03 Mar 2014 01:36 PM PST Studies examining the potential health benefits of moderate drinking generally focus on average levels of drinking rather than drinking patterns. A new study shows that, among older moderate drinkers, those who binge drink have a significantly greater mortality risk than regular moderate drinkers. The findings highlight the importance of focusing on drinking patterns, as well as absolute amounts of ethanol consumed, as predictors of health and mortality outcomes among older adults.

Yeast model reveals alzheimer's drug candidate and its mechanism of action Posted: 03 Mar 2014 12:39 PM PST A yeast cell-based drug screen has been used by researchers to identify a class of molecules that target the amyloid-² (A²) peptide involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The U.S. National Institute on Aging estimates that 5.1 million Americans may have AD, the most common form of dementia, which progressively robs patients of their memories, thinking, and reasoning skills.

'Carbohydrates in a coal mine' for found cancer detection Posted: 03 Mar 2014 12:39 PM PST Carbohydrates serve as identifiers for cancer cells, researchers have discovered. Their findings show how these molecules may serve as signals for cancer and explain what's going on inside these cells, pointing to new ways in which sugars function as a looking glass into the workings of their underlying structures. "Carbohydrates can tell us a lot about what's going on inside of a cell, so they are potentially good markers for disease," the lead author notes.

New approach to breast reconstruction surgery reduces opioid painkiller use, hospital stays Posted: 03 Mar 2014 11:33 AM PST A new approach to breast reconstruction surgery aimed at helping patients' bodies get back to normal more quickly cut their postoperative opioid painkiller use in half and meant a day less in the hospital on average, a study found. The method includes new pain control techniques, preventive anti-nausea treatment and getting women eating and walking soon after free flap breast reconstruction surgery.

Particle beam cancer therapy: The promise and challenges Posted: 03 Mar 2014 11:32 AM PST Advances in accelerators built for fundamental physics research have inspired improved cancer treatment facilities. Accelerator physicists are natural-born problem solvers, finding ever more powerful ways to generate and steer particle beams for research into the mysteries of physics, materials, and matter. And from the very beginning, this field born at the dawn of the atomic age has actively sought ways to apply advanced technologies to tackle more practical problems. At the top of the list has always been taking aim at cancer, the second leading cause of death in the U.S. today, affecting one in two men and one in three women. But will one of the most promising -- a carbon ion treatment facility -- be built in the U.S.?

Blocking key signaling chemical in the immune system stalls chronic inflammation, insulin resistance tied to obesity Posted: 03 Mar 2014 10:58 AM PST Blocking the action of a key signaling molecule in the immune system known as Netrin-1 stalls chronic inflammation and insulin resistance tied to obesity and often derived from fatty diets, new research shows. Among the study's key findings was that inflammatory macrophage buildup is controlled by Netrin-1, which not only attracts more macrophages into fat tissue, but also prevents macrophages from carrying away pathogens and unwanted fat cells as the immune cells would normally do. Uncontrolled inflammation is known to damage arteries and vital organs.

Entomologists update definitions to tackle resistance to biotech crops, pesticides Posted: 03 Mar 2014 05:44 AM PST The current jumble of terms about insects and weeds that are resistant to pesticides has fostered confusion among scientists. To address this, entomologists have updated definitions for 50 key terms related to pesticide resistance. The authors favor definitions that promote proactive detection and management of resistance, such as resistance defined as "a genetically based decrease in susceptibility to a pesticide." They contrast this with an alternative definition used by some industry scientists that requires "repeated failure of a product to achieve the expected level of control," which generally occurs only after it's too late to respond most effectively.

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