ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Why Arctic ice is disappearing more rapidly than expected: River ice reveals new twist on Arctic melt
• Morning rays keep off pounds
• Large carnivores with large geographic ranges better-studied
• Dinosaur chase reconstructed 70 years after excavation
• Skipping meals may affect butterfly wing size, coloration
• Body odor changes following vaccination
• Magnetic anomaly deep within Earth's crust reveals Africa in North America
• Unplanned pregnancy remains high among young Australian women
• Ancient volcanic explosions shed light on Mercury's origins
• Gastro outbreaks hit elderly hardest
• New insights into quantum dynamics and quantum chaos
• Magnitude 8.2 earthquake off Chile: Thrust faulting at shallow depths near the Chilean coast
• To boldly go? Experts issue ethics guidelines for health standards on NASA's next generation of risky missions
• Novel biomarker for head and neck cancer, non-small cell lung cancer identified
• Killing a name of an extinct sea cow species
• Regolith of small asteroids formed by thermal fatigue
• Americans using more energy, according to new analysis
• Beyond proficiency: How early English exposure influences non-native speakers
• Most comprehensive wiring diagram of the mammalian brain to date
• A critical window into the developing human brain profiled in Nature
• 'Geologic clock' helps determine moon's age
• New general concept for treatment of cancer
• Call for circumcision gets a boost from experts
• One or two? How to decide how many species you have got
• Cell-surface receptor offers promising breakthrough for pancreatic cancer patients
• Longer stay in hospital ICU has lasting impact on quality of life
• Researchers identify how zinc regulates key enzyme involved in cell death
• Food pantry clients struggle to afford diapers, detergent, other non-food items
• E-cigarettes: No smoke, no danger?
• Strain-specific Lyme disease immunity lasts for years
• Criticism of violent video games has decreased as technology has improved, gamers age
• The science of champagne fizz: How many bubbles are in your bubbly?
• '3-D' test could reduce reliance on animals for testing asthma and allergy medications
• Key chocolate ingredients could help prevent obesity, diabetes
• First peanut genome sequenced
• Infants are sensitive to pleasant touch
• Integrating meditation with science
• Pathological complete response predictor of favorable breast cancer outcome
• Treating tumors: Radiation able to be securely stored in nontoxic molecule, study suggests
• Pharmocogenomics Has Not Fulfilled Its Promise to Developing Countries
• Rainy day can ruin online restaurant review
• Europeans have three times more Neanderthal genes for lipid catabolism than Asians or Africans
• Florida's participation in quality initiative resulted in statewide improvement
• Biological evidence of positive and negative people in the world
• Tiny crystals to boost solar
• Good diet boosts health but not wealth
• Levels of sodium intake recommended by CDC associated with harmful health outcomes
• Galactic serial killer: Galaxy engulfed several other galaxies in its violent history
• Contrary to expectations, life experiences better use of money than material items
• Coffee Consumption Reduces Mortality Risk from Liver Cirrhosis
• Low-cost, highly efficient OLED lighting: Europium complexes emit red light at record efficiency
• Trans Fat, Regulation, Legislation and Human Health
• Steel-fiber reinforced concrete for conventional construction work as well
• Climate change forces flower festival forward a month since 1960s, study shows
• Pigeons share our ability to place everyday things in categories
• Natural variation: Warm North Atlantic Ocean promotes extreme winters in US and Europe
• Ancient nomads spread earliest domestic grains along Silk Road: Findings push back earliest known East-West interaction by 2,000 years
• Care of heart failure patients falling short in UK
• Probiotics do not help infants with colic
• Amazon Studied to Predict Impact of Climate Change

Why Arctic ice is disappearing more rapidly than expected: River ice reveals new twist on Arctic melt Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:26 PM PDT A new study has discovered unexpected climate-driven changes in the mighty Mackenzie River's ice breakup. This discovery may help resolve the complex puzzle underlying why Arctic ice is disappearing more rapidly than expected.

Morning rays keep off pounds Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:25 PM PDT A surprising new strategy for managing your weight? Bright morning light. People who had most of their daily exposure to bright light in the morning had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) than those who had most of their light exposure later in the day, reports a new study. The earlier light exposure occurred, the lower the BMI. The influence of morning light on weight was independent of physical activity, caloric intake, sleep timing, age or season.

Large carnivores with large geographic ranges better-studied Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:25 PM PDT Scientists tend to study larger carnivores with larger geographic ranges than those with greater adaptability and broader diets. Scientists need to evaluate research efforts and their effectiveness in order to meet the conservation needs of a wider range of species which may be threatened due to habitat loss, exploitation, and climate change. The characteristics of the species themselves may influence how much we study them, possibly creating a bias in our understanding of this diverse group of animals.

Dinosaur chase reconstructed 70 years after excavation Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:25 PM PDT Scientists digitally reconstructed a model of a dinosaur chase using photos of theropod and sauropod footprints excavated 70 years ago. As one of the most famous set of dinosaur tracks in the world, the Paluxy River tracks contain both theropod and sauropod footprints. American paleontologist Roland Bird originally excavated the extensive and well preserved footprints in 1940 in Texas, but post-excavation, paleontologists removed the tracks from their original location, divided them into blocks, and transported them to various locations around the world.

Skipping meals may affect butterfly wing size, coloration Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:25 PM PDT High food stress may impact wing size and coloration -- both indicators of migratory success -- in monarch butterflies. Monarch butterflies migrate long distances according to the seasons every year. Because this requires so much energy, they rely on access to food during early stages of growth so that they can develop the necessary characteristics to safely complete the trek, including appropriate wing shape and coloration.

Body odor changes following vaccination Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:19 PM PDT New research reveals that immunization can trigger a distinct change in body odor. This is the first demonstration of a bodily odor change due to immune activation. "This work provides further evidence that it is possible to use odors to 'eavesdrop' on the immune system, suggesting that non-invasive disease detection may be possible even before the onset of observable symptoms," one of the researchers said.

Magnetic anomaly deep within Earth's crust reveals Africa in North America Posted: 02 Apr 2014 01:24 PM PDT The repeated cycles of plate tectonics that have led to collision and assembly of large supercontinents and their breakup and formation of new ocean basins have produced continents that are collages of bits and pieces of other continents. Figuring out the origin and make-up of continental crust formed and modified by these tectonic events is vital to understanding Earth's geology and is important for many applied fields, such as oil, gas, and gold exploration.

Unplanned pregnancy remains high among young Australian women Posted: 02 Apr 2014 12:36 PM PDT Despite high rates of contraceptive use, unwanted pregnancies resulting in terminations remain high among young women. In a new article, researchers examine the paradox of high rates of contraceptive use, over-the-counter availability of emergency contraception and unplanned pregnancy.

Ancient volcanic explosions shed light on Mercury's origins Posted: 02 Apr 2014 12:36 PM PDT The surface of Mercury crackled with volcanic explosions for extended periods of the planet's history, according to a new analysis. The findings are surprising considering Mercury wasn't supposed to have explosive volcanism in the first place, and they could have implications for understanding how Mercury formed.

Gastro outbreaks hit elderly hardest Posted: 02 Apr 2014 12:36 PM PDT Frail elderly people living in residential care facilities are at increased risk of severe illness or death from outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis. "Notification of outbreaks to public health units should occur within 24 hours of any outbreak so that diagnostic testing and control measures can begin as soon as possible," the researchers state.

New insights into quantum dynamics and quantum chaos Posted: 02 Apr 2014 12:36 PM PDT A team of researchers has announced analytical prediction and numerical verification of novel quantum rotor states in nanostructured superconductors.

Magnitude 8.2 earthquake off Chile: Thrust faulting at shallow depths near the Chilean coast Posted: 02 Apr 2014 11:56 AM PDT A large earthquake struck off Chile on April 1, 2014 at 23:46:46 UTC, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The magnitude 8.2 earthquake in northern Chile occurred as the result of thrust faulting at shallow depths near the Chilean coast. The location and mechanism of the earthquake are consistent with slip on the primary plate boundary interface, or megathrust, between the Nazca and South America plates.

To boldly go? Experts issue ethics guidelines for health standards on NASA's next generation of risky missions Posted: 02 Apr 2014 11:42 AM PDT An Institute of Medicine committee has issued a report with ethics principles and guidelines to aid NASA in decision-making for longer, higher risk human spaceflights. Such missions, including extended stays on the International Space Station and flights to Mars, have higher risks and are unlikely to meet the space agency's current health standards.

Novel biomarker for head and neck cancer, non-small cell lung cancer identified Posted: 02 Apr 2014 11:03 AM PDT A new biomarker linked to better outcomes of patients with head and neck cancers and non-small cell lung cancer has been identified by researchers. The work could help scientists develop new diagnostics and therapies and help physicians determine the best long-term treatments for patients with these cancers.

Killing a name of an extinct sea cow species Posted: 02 Apr 2014 10:40 AM PDT Sirenians, or sea cows, are a particular group of mammals that superficially resembles whales in having, amongst other features, a streamlined-body and horizontal tail fluke. Though belonging to the so-called marine mammals, such as whales and seals, sea cows are members of a group having a single origin that includes their closest living relatives, the proboscideans (or elephants in the broader sense).

Regolith of small asteroids formed by thermal fatigue Posted: 02 Apr 2014 10:39 AM PDT The centimeter-sized fragments and smaller particles that make up the regolith -- the layer of loose, unconsolidated rock and dust -- of small asteroids is formed by temperature cycling that breaks down rock in a process called thermal fatigue, according to a new article.

Americans using more energy, according to new analysis Posted: 02 Apr 2014 10:39 AM PDT Americans used more renewable, fossil and even nuclear energy in 2013, according to the most recent energy flow charts. Wind energy continued to grow strongly, increasing 18 percent from 1.36 quadrillion BTUs, or quads, in 2012 to 1.6 quads in 2013. New wind farms continue to come on line with bigger, more efficient turbines. Most new wind turbines can generate 2 to 2.5 megawatts of power.

Beyond proficiency: How early English exposure influences non-native speakers Posted: 02 Apr 2014 10:39 AM PDT Non-native speakers exposed to English through newspapers, books, TV and classes as well as traveling before moving to the US are more likely to use the language socially and culturally, according to a report. "English-language ability is one of the most important determinants of socioeconomic mobility in the United States, with strong effects on employment, earnings and occupational status," noted the study's lead author.

Most comprehensive wiring diagram of the mammalian brain to date Posted: 02 Apr 2014 10:39 AM PDT Researchers have published the first comprehensive, large-scale data set on how the brain of a mammal is wired, providing a groundbreaking data resource and fresh insights into how the nervous system processes information. Their landmark paper describes the publicly available Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity Atlas and demonstrates the exciting knowledge that can be gleaned from this valuable resource.

A critical window into the developing human brain profiled in Nature Posted: 02 Apr 2014 10:39 AM PDT Researchers have generated a high-resolution blueprint for how to build a human brain, with a detailed map of where different genes are turned on and off during mid-pregnancy at unprecedented anatomical resolution. This is the first major report using data from the BrainSpan Atlas of the Developing Human Brain.

'Geologic clock' helps determine moon's age Posted: 02 Apr 2014 10:39 AM PDT Planetary scientists have determined that the moon formed nearly 100 million years after the start of the solar system, according to a new article. This conclusion is based on measurements from the interior of the Earth combined with computer simulations of the protoplanetary disk from which the Earth and other terrestrial planets formed.

New general concept for treatment of cancer Posted: 02 Apr 2014 10:39 AM PDT A team of researchers from five Swedish universities has identified a new way of treating cancer. The concept is based on inhibiting a specific enzyme called MTH1, which cancer cells, unlike normal cells, require for survival. Without this enzyme, oxidized nucleotides are incorporated into DNA, resulting in lethal DNA double-strand breaks in cancer cells.

Call for circumcision gets a boost from experts Posted: 02 Apr 2014 10:38 AM PDT In the United States the rate of circumcision in men has increased to 81% over the past decade. In an important new study, authors have shown that the benefits of infant male circumcision to health exceed the risks by over 100 to 1. Over their lifetime half of uncircumcised males will contract an adverse medical condition caused by their foreskin, the researchers suggest.

One or two? How to decide how many species you have got Posted: 02 Apr 2014 09:16 AM PDT It is often difficult to decide whether two animals belong to the same or two distinct species. This can be especially challenging for animals which externally look very similar. In a recent study, scientists use genetic data and calls analysis to test if treefrogs from West and Central Africa belong to different or the same species.

Cell-surface receptor offers promising breakthrough for pancreatic cancer patients Posted: 02 Apr 2014 09:14 AM PDT Findings of a new study provide a direct proof for a new therapy and provide hope for the people with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer rates in the U.S. have been rising over the past decade, and the disease takes a very heavy toll. The American Cancer Society estimates that in the last year alone about 45,220 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, while 38,460 died of the illness.

Longer stay in hospital ICU has lasting impact on quality of life Posted: 02 Apr 2014 09:14 AM PDT Patients have substantial physical impairments even two years after being discharged from the hospital after a stay in an intensive care unit (ICU), new research suggests. The scientists found that for every day of bed rest in the ICU, muscle strength was between 3 and 11 percent lower over the following months and years.

Researchers identify how zinc regulates key enzyme involved in cell death Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:16 AM PDT The molecular details of how zinc, an essential trace element of human metabolism, interacts with the enzyme caspase-3, which is central to apoptosis or cell death, have been elucidated in a new study led by researchers. Dysregulation of apoptosis is implicated in cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Zinc is known to affect the process by inhibiting the activity of caspases, which are important drug targets for the treatment of the above conditions.

Food pantry clients struggle to afford diapers, detergent, other non-food items Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:16 AM PDT Many food-insecure families also struggle to afford basic non-food household goods, such as personal care, household, and baby-care products, according to a new study. "These families often make trade-offs with other living expenses and employ coping strategies in an effort to secure such household items as toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, or disposable diapers," said the lead author.

E-cigarettes: No smoke, no danger? Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:15 AM PDT Smokers turn to e-cigarettes to ease nicotine withdrawal, or to avoid harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke. But many use e-cigarettes in public spaces and regular cigarettes everywhere else. Quitting half-way won't help. And researchers do not know that smokeless vapor is safe. E-cigarettes create an inhalable nicotine vapor by heating a liquid nicotine solution. While there are many different e-cigarette devices on the market, the basic parts of a typical device include a battery, a cartridge with nicotine (and possibly flavoring), and a heater that vaporizes the nicotine to be inhaled.

Strain-specific Lyme disease immunity lasts for years Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT Lyme disease, if not treated promptly with antibiotics, can become a lingering problem for those infected. But a new study led by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania has some brighter news: Once infected with a particular strain of the disease-causing bacteria, humans appear to develop immunity against that strain that can last six to nine years.

Criticism of violent video games has decreased as technology has improved, gamers age Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT Journalists writing about video gaming expressed a considerable amount of concern about the level of violence in the game software companies were creating in the early 1990s, when video game design was limited by technology. However, this has decreased as the age of gamers has increased and the technology behind the games has improved.

The science of champagne fizz: How many bubbles are in your bubbly? Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT The importance of fizz, more technically known as effervescence, in sparkling wines and champagnes is not to be underestimated -- it contributes to the complete sensory experience of a glass, or flute, of fine bubbly. A scientist has now closely examined the factors that affect these bubbles, and he has come up with an estimate of just how many are in each glass.

'3-D' test could reduce reliance on animals for testing asthma and allergy medications Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT To determine whether new medicines are safe and effective for humans, researchers must first test them in animals, which is costly and time-consuming, as well as ethically challenging. Scientists now report that they've developed a simple, '3-D' laboratory method to test asthma and allergy medications that mimics what happens in the body, which could help reduce the need for animal testing.

Key chocolate ingredients could help prevent obesity, diabetes Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT Improved thinking. Decreased appetite. Lowered blood pressure. The potential health benefits of dark chocolate keep piling up, and scientists are now homing in on what ingredients in chocolate might help prevent obesity, as well as type-2 diabetes. They found that one particular type of antioxidant in cocoa prevented laboratory mice from gaining excess weight and lowered their blood sugar levels.

First peanut genome sequenced Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:59 AM PDT The International Peanut Genome Initiative -- a group of multinational crop geneticists who have been working in tandem for the last several years -- has successfully sequenced the peanut's genome. The new peanut genome sequence will be available to researchers and plant breeders across the globe to aid in the breeding of more productive and more resilient peanut varieties.

Infants are sensitive to pleasant touch Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:57 AM PDT Infants show unique physiological and behavioral responses to pleasant touch, which may help to cement the bonds between child and parent and promote early social and physiological development, according to research. According to the researchers, the findings "support the notion that pleasant touch plays a vital role in human social interactions by demonstrating that the sensitivity to pleasant touch emerges early in human development."

Integrating meditation with science Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:57 AM PDT Mindfulness meditation produces personal experiences that are not readily interpretable by scientists who want to study its psychiatric benefits in the brain. Researchers have now been able to integrate mindfulness experience with hard neuroscience data to advance more rigorous study.

Pathological complete response predictor of favorable breast cancer outcome Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:57 AM PDT Pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is an independent predictive factor of favorable clinical outcomes in all molecular subtypes of breast cancer, a new trial demonstrates.

Treating tumors: Radiation able to be securely stored in nontoxic molecule, study suggests Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:56 AM PDT Researchers discovered that microscopic "bubbles" are safe and effective storage lockers for harmful isotopes that emit ionizing radiation for treating tumors. The findings can benefit patient health and advance radiation therapy used to treat cancer and other diseases.

Pharmocogenomics Has Not Fulfilled Its Promise to Developing Countries Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:56 AM PDT From 1997 to 2010, despite promises made by the international scientific community, pharmacogenomic research produced few studies focusing on rare, orphan and tropical diseases prevalent in developing countries. Pharmcogenomics is a field of scientific research that studies the interaction between the genomic information of individuals (or populations) and their responses to drugs.

Rainy day can ruin online restaurant review Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:55 AM PDT After looking at 1.1 million online reviews for 840,000 restaurants in more than 32,000 cities across the country, researchers have found that the weather outside can be just as significant a factor for reviews as what happens inside a restaurant. The study shows evaluations written on rainy or snowy days, or very cold or hot days, are more negative than those written on nice days.

Europeans have three times more Neanderthal genes for lipid catabolism than Asians or Africans Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:00 AM PDT Contemporary Europeans have as many as three times more Neanderthal variants in genes involved in lipid catabolism than Asians and Africans. Although Neanderthals are extinct, fragments of their genomes persist in modern humans. These shared regions are unevenly distributed across the genome and some regions are particularly enriched with Neanderthal variants.

Florida's participation in quality initiative resulted in statewide improvement Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:00 AM PDT A surgical collaborative of hospitals across Florida resulted in broad improvement in the state, helping most hospitals significantly improve, according to a new study. Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®), the Florida Surgical Care Initiative (FSCI) was able to reduce complications by 14.5 percent.

Biological evidence of positive and negative people in the world Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:00 AM PDT The ability to stay positive when times get tough -- and, conversely, of being negative -- may be hardwired in the brain, finds new research. The study focused on women because they are twice as likely as men to suffer from anxiety related problems and previously reported sex differences in brain structure and function could have obscured the results.

Tiny crystals to boost solar Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:00 AM PDT A new approach to studying solar panel absorber materials has been developed. The technique could accelerate the development of non-toxic and readily available alternatives to current absorbers in thin film based solar cells.

Good diet boosts health but not wealth Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:58 AM PDT The idea that a good diet means a healthy population with lower health costs only holds true when it comes to emergency care, a study shows. Although men and women aged over 65 years who ate healthily had shorter stays in hospital, they were strong users of other medical services. In fact, they tended to make greater use of outpatient services, preventive care and dental care than those who did not follow a healthy eating plan.

Levels of sodium intake recommended by CDC associated with harmful health outcomes Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:58 AM PDT Current levels of sodium intake recommended by the CDC have been discovered as unhealthy, according to a new study. concluded that 2,645 -- 4,945 mg of sodium per day, a range of intake within which the vast majority of Americans fall, actually results in more favorable health outcomes than the CDC's current recommendation of less than 2300mg/day for healthy individuals under 50 years old, and less than 1500 mg/day for most over 50 years.

Galactic serial killer: Galaxy engulfed several other galaxies in its violent history Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:58 AM PDT A new image shows two contrasting galaxies: NGC 1316, and its smaller neighbor NGC 1317. These two are quite close to each other in space, but they have very different histories. The small spiral NGC 1317 has led an uneventful life, but NGC 1316 has engulfed several other galaxies in its violent history and shows the battle scars.

Contrary to expectations, life experiences better use of money than material items Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:58 AM PDT Why do shoppers continue to buy material items, despite research showing that purchasing life experiences will make them happier? A new study says they believe material items will be the best use of their money, despite the fact that, after the purchase, experiential items are considered the better value. The research suggests these individuals are sacrificing well-being for a sense of value that never materializes.

Coffee Consumption Reduces Mortality Risk from Liver Cirrhosis Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:56 AM PDT Consuming two or more cups of coffee each day reduces the risk of death from liver cirrhosis by 66%, specifically cirrhosis caused by non-viral hepatitis, new research reveals. Findings show that tea, fruit juice, and soft drink consumption are not linked to cirrhosis mortality risk. As with previous studies, heavy alcohol use was found to increase risk of death from cirrhosis.

Low-cost, highly efficient OLED lighting: Europium complexes emit red light at record efficiency Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT Researchers worldwide continue search for better luminescent materials for OLED manufacturing. Two new compounds with europium complexes display in their class record high luminescence efficiencies in red, and their properties enable faster, low cost manufacturing of thin OLED films.

Trans Fat, Regulation, Legislation and Human Health Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT A new report focuses on the science and policy leading up to the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) preliminary steps toward restricting industrially produced trans fatty acids, or trans fat, at the federal level. "Trans fat is a compelling topic because although it directly impacts human health, it also cues up controversy in multiple disciplines, including economics and politics," said one expert.

Steel-fiber reinforced concrete for conventional construction work as well Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT When adding steel fibers the size of a clip, concrete is less prone to cracking, an engineer demonstrates. What the study shows is that this material has certain advantages over conventional reinforced concrete, and it can be used for purposes like the manufacture of cylindrical holding tanks.

Climate change forces flower festival forward a month since 1960s, study shows Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT Organizers of flower festivals are being forced to adapt to increasingly early first blooming dates in spring, according to a study. The early flowering phenomenon is caused by the UK's increasingly mild springs, specifically a mean rise in March and April temperatures of 1.8 degrees Celsius since 1969.

Pigeons share our ability to place everyday things in categories Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:51 AM PDT Pinecone or pine nut? Friend or foe? Distinguishing between the two requires that we pay special attention to the telltale characteristics of each. And as it turns out, us humans aren't the only ones up to the task. According to researchers, pigeons share our ability to place everyday things in categories. And, like people, they can home in on visual information that is new or important and dismiss what is not.

Natural variation: Warm North Atlantic Ocean promotes extreme winters in US and Europe Posted: 01 Apr 2014 06:04 PM PDT The extreme cold weather observed across Europe and the east coast of the US in recent winters could be partly down to natural, long-term variations in sea surface temperatures, according to a new study. Researchers have shown that a phenomenon known as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) -- a natural pattern of variation in North Atlantic sea surface temperatures that switches between a positive and negative phase every 60-70 years -- can affect an atmospheric circulation pattern, known as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), that influences the temperature and precipitation over the Northern Hemisphere in winter.

Ancient nomads spread earliest domestic grains along Silk Road: Findings push back earliest known East-West interaction by 2,000 years Posted: 01 Apr 2014 06:04 PM PDT Charred grains of barley, millet and wheat deposited nearly 5,000 years ago at campsites in the high plains of Kazakhstan show that nomadic sheepherders played a surprisingly important role in the early spread of domesticated crops throughout a mountainous east-west corridor along the historic Silk Road, suggests new research.

Care of heart failure patients falling short in UK Posted: 01 Apr 2014 06:04 PM PDT Care of patients with heart failure in the UK is inadequate and has not changed in a decade, according to new research. The study highlights inadequacies in heart failure care as well as an uncoordinated approach to diagnosis and management of the condition between primary and secondary care clinicians.

Probiotics do not help infants with colic Posted: 01 Apr 2014 06:04 PM PDT Giving probiotics to infants with colic does not appear to have any benefit, according to a large trial. Infant colic (excessive crying of unknown cause) affects up to 20% of infants and is a major burden to families and health services. Although it spontaneously resolves three to four months after birth, its cause remains elusive and no single effective treatment exists.

Amazon Studied to Predict Impact of Climate Change Posted: 01 Apr 2014 06:02 PM PDT Extreme weather events in the Amazon Basin are giving scientists an opportunity to predict the impacts of climate change and deforestation on ecological processes and ecosystem services of the Amazon River wetlands. "The research fills an important gap in our understanding of the vulnerability of tropical river-forest systems to changes in climate and land cover," said the project's leader.

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