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• Placental marker of prenatal stress linked to brain mitochondrial dysfunction
• New blood test identifies heart-transplant rejection earlier than biopsy can
• Maybe birds can have it all: Dazzling colors and pretty songs
• False negative results found in prognostic testing for breast cancer
• Breathalyzer test may detect deadliest cancer
• Familiar yet strange: Water's 'split personality' revealed by computer model
• Genetic code for diabetes in Greenland broken by scientists
• Achilles' heel in antibiotic-resistant bacteria discovered
• Scientists take first dip into water's mysterious 'no-man's land'
• Unlocking therapeutic potential of SLC13 transporters
• How brain 'reboots' itself to consciousness after anesthesia
• Molecular 'Yin-Yang' of Blood Vessel Growth revealed
• When it comes to numbers, culture counts
• Self-repairing mechanism can help to preserve brain function in neurodegenerative diseases
• Modeling how neurons work together may help design robotic limbs
• Groundbreaking model explains how the brain learns to ignore familiar stimuli
• Blocking brain's 'internal marijuana' may trigger early Alzheimer's deficits, study shows
• Evolutionary biology: Why cattle, pigs only have two toes
• How genetic mutation causes early brain damage
• Nature's chem lab: How microorganisms manufacture drugs
• Molecule vital for creating water exists in dying sun-like stars
• Titan flybys test the talents of NASA's Cassini team
• Kids whose time is less structured are better able to meet their own goals, study shows
• Nanoparticles from dietary supplement drinks likely to reach environment: Potentially harmful substances
• Stem pipeline problems to aid STEM diversity
• Sexting among youth more prevalent than thought? Minors unaware of harsh legal consequences, survey shows
• New method to identify inks could help preserve historical documents
• Ban on pavement sealant lowered levels of potentially harmful compounds in lake
• Collecting light with artificial moth eyes: Producing hydrogen with sunlight
• Helping growers mitigate costly droughts
• MERS-related abnormality distribution on CT identifed, clarified
• Cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation counseling during hospitalization shown in study
• Trap-jaw ants spreading in southeastern United States
• New horned dinosaur reveals unique wing-shaped headgear
• Suicidal behaviour not increased by ADHD drugs, research concludes
• Food poisoning cases underreported, food safety specialist says
• Identifying opposite patterns of climate change: Hydrologic seesaw over the past 550,000 years
• A call to better protect Antarctica: Human activity threatening continent
• Satellite data provides picture of underground water
• Electrical switch during labor could be faulty in overweight women
• The noisy world of mud crabs: Predatory fish sounds can alter crab behavior
• Race a factor in mortality in heart attack patients on anti-clotting drug
• Hippocampal activity during music listening exposes the memory-boosting power of music
• Horizontal levitation: The ultimate solution to particle separation
• New quantum mechanism to trigger the emission of tunable light at terahertz frequencies
• Yoga exercise program tailored for pulmonary hypertension patients
• Punishment plays important role in forgiveness
• Exposure to TV violence related to irregular attention and brain structure
• Fishing resources mapped to assist land managers, anglers
• Moral tales with positive outcomes motivate kids to be honest
• Supplements of calcium, vitamin D may have too much for some older women
• Shortage of cybersecurity professionals poses risk to U.S. national security
• No evidence that soy food protects against endometrial cancer, study finds
• Animals conceal sickness symptoms in certain social situations
• Spanish slug: Busting an invasion myth
• Gender 'rebalancing' in China: An uncertain future
• Energy-optimized buildings: Keeping a cool head at the workplace
• Proteins in urine could play important role in stress incontinence
• World’s first light technology to control proteins in living cells
• Birds evolve 'signature' patterns to distinguish cuckoo eggs from their own

Placental marker of prenatal stress linked to brain mitochondrial dysfunction Posted: 18 Jun 2014 11:26 AM PDT An enzyme found in the placenta is likely playing an important role in translating stress experienced by a mother early in pregnancy into a reprogramming of her developing baby's brain, research suggests. "People think that the placenta only serves to promote blood flow between a mom and her baby, but that's really not all it's doing," the lead investigator said. "It's a very dynamic endocrine tissue and it's sex-specific, and we've shown that tampering with it can dramatically affect a baby's developing brain."

New blood test identifies heart-transplant rejection earlier than biopsy can Posted: 18 Jun 2014 11:26 AM PDT A noninvasive way to detect heart-transplant rejection weeks or months earlier than previously possible has been devised by researchers. The test, which relies on the detection of increasing amounts of the donor's DNA in the blood of the recipient, does not require the removal of any heart tissue.

Maybe birds can have it all: Dazzling colors and pretty songs Posted: 18 Jun 2014 11:26 AM PDT A study of one of the world's largest and most colorful bird families has dispelled a long-held notion, first proposed by Charles Darwin, that animals are limited in their options to evolve showiness. "Animals have limited resources, and they have to spend those in order to develop showy plumage or precision singing that help them attract mates and defend territories," said the paper's lead author. "So it seems to make sense that you can't have both. But our study took a more detailed look and suggests that actually, some species can."

False negative results found in prognostic testing for breast cancer Posted: 18 Jun 2014 11:26 AM PDT Researchers retested tumor samples from a large group of women and found that 22 out of 530 women had their tumor type incorrectly classified, which precluded them from effective treatment options. The repercussions of incorrectly identifying a cancer's subtype are considerable. "While it is comforting that only four percent of these women were misclassified initially, this is an enormous issue for those who fall into this group," said one researcher.

Breathalyzer test may detect deadliest cancer Posted: 18 Jun 2014 11:00 AM PDT Lung cancer causes more deaths in the US than the next three most common cancers combined. Now a new breathalyzer test, embedded with a 'NaNose' nanotech chip to literally 'sniff out' cancer tumors, has been developed by a team of international researchers. It may turn the tide by both accurately detecting lung cancer and identifying its stage of progression.

Familiar yet strange: Water's 'split personality' revealed by computer model Posted: 18 Jun 2014 11:00 AM PDT Using computer models, researchers found that as water freezes it takes on a sort of split personality wherein, at very cold temperatures and above a certain pressure, it may spontaneously split into two liquid forms. Finding this dual nature could lead to a better understanding of how water behaves in high-altitude clouds, which could improve the predictive ability of current weather and climate models.

Genetic code for diabetes in Greenland broken by scientists Posted: 18 Jun 2014 11:00 AM PDT New ground-breaking genetics research explains the high incidence of type 2 diabetes in the Greenlandic population, based on blood samples from 5,000 people or approximately 10% of the population. "Several epidemiological studies have looked at the health implications of the transition from life as sealers and hunters in small isolated communities to a modern lifestyle with appreciable dietary changes. Perhaps the gene variant which has been identified can be interpreted as a sign of natural selection as the traditional Greenlandic diet consisted primarily of protein and fat from sea animals," one researcher said.

Achilles' heel in antibiotic-resistant bacteria discovered Posted: 18 Jun 2014 11:00 AM PDT A breakthrough in the race to solve antibiotic resistance has been made by scientists. New research reveals an Achilles' heel in the defensive barrier that surrounds drug-resistant bacterial cells. The findings pave the way for a new wave of drugs that kill superbugs by bringing down their defensive walls rather than attacking the bacteria itself. It means that in future, bacteria may not develop drug-resistance at all.

Scientists take first dip into water's mysterious 'no-man's land' Posted: 18 Jun 2014 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have made the first structural observations of liquid water at temperatures down to minus 51 degrees Fahrenheit, within an elusive 'no-man's land' where water's strange properties are super-amplified.

Unlocking therapeutic potential of SLC13 transporters Posted: 18 Jun 2014 10:58 AM PDT The first functional analysis of a member of a family of transporter proteins implicated in diabetes, obesity, and lifespan, has been completed, potentially providing the key that will enable researchers to unlock their therapeutic potential. Members of the SLC13 transporter family play a key role in the regulation of fat storage, insulin resistance, and other processes.

How brain 'reboots' itself to consciousness after anesthesia Posted: 18 Jun 2014 10:58 AM PDT One of the great mysteries of anesthesia is how patients can be temporarily rendered completely unresponsive during surgery and then wake up again, with their memories and skills intact. "Recovery from anesthesia is not simply the result of the anesthetic 'wearing off,' but also of the brain finding its way back through a maze of possible activity states to those that allow conscious experience," one researcher said. "Put simply, the brain reboots itself."

Molecular 'Yin-Yang' of Blood Vessel Growth revealed Posted: 18 Jun 2014 10:58 AM PDT A crucial process that regulates development of blood vessels has been discovered by scientists. SerRS (seryl tRNA synthetase) belongs to a family of enzymes that have fundamental, evolutionarily ancient roles in the protein-making machinery of cells. But researchers have been finding in recent years, some of these protein-maker enzymes seem to have evolved extra functions. The finding may lead to treatments for disorders involving abnormal blood vessel growth, including diabetic retinopathy and cancer.

When it comes to numbers, culture counts Posted: 18 Jun 2014 10:20 AM PDT A new study finds that in a Bolivian rainforest society, children learn to count just like in the US, but on a delayed timetable.

Self-repairing mechanism can help to preserve brain function in neurodegenerative diseases Posted: 18 Jun 2014 10:20 AM PDT Neurogenesis, the self-repairing mechanism of the adult brain, can help to preserve brain function in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Prion or Parkinson's, research shows. The brain has some self-repairing potential that accounts for the renewal of certain neuronal populations living in the dentate gyrus, a simple cortical region that is part of the larger functional brain system controlling learning and memory, the hippocampus. This process is known as neurogenesis.

Modeling how neurons work together may help design robotic limbs Posted: 18 Jun 2014 10:20 AM PDT A highly accurate model of how neurons behave when performing complex movements could aid in the design of robotic limbs which behave more realistically. While an action such as reaching for a cup of coffee may seem straightforward, the millions of neurons in the brain's motor cortex must work together to prepare and execute the movement before the coffee ever reaches our lips. These signals are transmitted across synapses -- the junctions between neurons.

Groundbreaking model explains how the brain learns to ignore familiar stimuli Posted: 18 Jun 2014 10:19 AM PDT A neuroscientist has proposed a new, ground-breaking explanation for the process of 'habituation,' which allows the brain to filter out significant environmental stimuli from the insignificant, and which is altered in Austim Spectrum Disorders.

Blocking brain's 'internal marijuana' may trigger early Alzheimer's deficits, study shows Posted: 18 Jun 2014 10:19 AM PDT A new study has implicated the blocking of endocannabinoids -- signaling substances that are the brain's internal versions of the psychoactive chemicals in marijuana and hashish -- in the early pathology of Alzheimer's disease.

Evolutionary biology: Why cattle, pigs only have two toes Posted: 18 Jun 2014 10:19 AM PDT During evolutionary diversification of vertebrate limbs, the number of toes in even-toed ungulates such as cattle and pigs was reduced and transformed into paired hooves. Scientists have identified a gene regulatory switch that was key to evolutionary adaption of limbs in ungulates. The study provides insights into the molecular history of evolution.

How genetic mutation causes early brain damage Posted: 18 Jun 2014 10:19 AM PDT Scientists have shed light on how a specific kind of genetic mutation can cause damage during early brain development that results in lifelong learning and behavioral disabilities. The study focuses on the role of a gene known as Syngap1. In humans, mutations in Syngap1 are known to cause devastating forms of intellectual disability and epilepsy.

Nature's chem lab: How microorganisms manufacture drugs Posted: 18 Jun 2014 10:19 AM PDT The first three-dimensional snapshots of the "assembly line" within microorganisms that naturally produces antibiotics and other drugs have been captured by researchers. Understanding the complete structure and movement within the molecular factory gives investigators a solid blueprint for redesigning the microbial assembly line to produce novel drugs of high medicinal value.

Molecule vital for creating water exists in dying sun-like stars Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:38 AM PDT Using ESA's Herschel space observatory, astronomers have discovered that a molecule vital for creating water exists in the burning embers of dying Sun-like stars.

Titan flybys test the talents of NASA's Cassini team Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:36 AM PDT As NASA's Cassini spacecraft zooms toward Saturn's smoggy moon Titan for a targeted flyby on June 18, mission scientists are excitedly hoping to repeat a scientific tour de force that will provide valuable new insights into the nature of the moon's surface and atmosphere.

Kids whose time is less structured are better able to meet their own goals, study shows Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:23 AM PDT Children who spend more time in less structured activities -- from playing outside to reading books to visiting the zoo -- are better able to set their own goals and take actions to meet those goals without prodding from adults, according to a new study. The study is one of the first to try to scientifically grapple with the question of how an increase in scheduled, formal activities may affect the way children's brains develop.

Nanoparticles from dietary supplement drinks likely to reach environment: Potentially harmful substances Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:23 AM PDT Nanoparticles are becoming ubiquitous in food packaging, personal care products and are even being added to food directly. But the health and environmental effects of these tiny additives have remained largely unknown. A new study now suggests that nanomaterials in food and drinks could interfere with digestive cells and lead to the release of the potentially harmful substances to the environment.

Stem pipeline problems to aid STEM diversity Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:23 AM PDT Educators and policymakers have spent decades trying to recruit and retain more underrepresented minority students into the science, technology, engineering, and math pipeline. A new analysis of disappointing results in the pipeline's output leads two biologists to suggest measures to help with the input.

Sexting among youth more prevalent than thought? Minors unaware of harsh legal consequences, survey shows Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:22 AM PDT Sexting among youth is more prevalent than previously thought, according to a new study. More than 50 percent of those surveyed reported that they had exchanged sexually explicit text messages, with or without photographic images, as minors. The study also found that the majority of young people are not aware of the legal ramifications of underage sexting.

New method to identify inks could help preserve historical documents Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:22 AM PDT The inks on historical documents can hold many secrets. Its ingredients can help trace trade routes and help understand a work's historical significance. And knowing how the ink breaks down can help cultural heritage scientists preserve valuable treasures. Researchers report the development of a new, non-destructive method that can identify many types of inks on various papers and other surfaces.

Ban on pavement sealant lowered levels of potentially harmful compounds in lake Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:22 AM PDT In 2006, Austin, Texas, became the first city in the country to ban a commonly used pavement sealant over concerns that it was a major source of cancer-causing compounds in the environment. Eight years later, the city's action seems to have made a big dent in the targeted compounds' levels -- researchers now report that the concentrations have dropped significantly.

Collecting light with artificial moth eyes: Producing hydrogen with sunlight Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:21 AM PDT All over the world researchers are investigating solar cells which imitate plant photosynthesis, using sunlight and water to create synthetic fuels such as hydrogen. Researchers have developed such a photoelectrochemical cell, recreating a moth's eye to drastically increase its light collecting efficiency. The cell is made of cheap raw materials – iron and tungsten oxide.

Helping growers mitigate costly droughts Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:20 AM PDT The Agricultural Reference Index for Drought, or ARID, used more than 100 years of climate data to reasonably predict drought levels in crops on several farms in Florida and Georgia. Scientists say its implications are far wider. If growers know when their crops need the most water, they can plant accordingly, said one researcher.

MERS-related abnormality distribution on CT identifed, clarified Posted: 18 Jun 2014 08:20 AM PDT Key defining characteristics of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in CT imaging of patients confirmed as having the disease have been identified by researchers. The study found that the most common CT finding in hospitalized patients with MERS infection is suggestive of an organizing pneumonia pattern.

Cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation counseling during hospitalization shown in study Posted: 18 Jun 2014 08:18 AM PDT The cost-effectiveness of the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation, an intervention that includes in-hospital counseling, pharmacotherapy and post-hospital follow-up, has been demonstrated compared to usual care among smokers hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Trap-jaw ants spreading in southeastern United States Posted: 18 Jun 2014 08:18 AM PDT Trap-jaw ant species are active hunters with venomous stings and jaws powerful enough to fling themselves through the air. According to new research, they are also spreading into new territory in the southeastern United States. A new paper is designed to help scientists identify which species of trap-jaw ants they're dealing with. While the paper draws on previously published research, it also includes new findings.

New horned dinosaur reveals unique wing-shaped headgear Posted: 18 Jun 2014 08:18 AM PDT A new species of horned dinosaur has been named Mercuriceratops gemini: Mercuriceratops (Mercuri + ceratops) means "Mercury horned-face," referring to the wing-like ornamentation on its head that resembles the wings on the helmet of the Roman god, Mercury. The name "gemini" refers to the almost identical twin specimens found in north central Montana and the Dinosaur Provincial Park, in Alberta, Canada. The dinosaur had a parrot-like beak and probably had two long brow horns above its eyes. It was a plant-eating dinosaur.

Suicidal behaviour not increased by ADHD drugs, research concludes Posted: 18 Jun 2014 08:17 AM PDT Drug therapy for ADHD does not entail an increased risk of suicide attempts or suicide, as was previously feared, a new register-based study from Sweden shows. Earlier research has indicated that ADHD drug treatment would increase the occurrence of suicidal thoughts. One strong point of the study now being published is that all the individuals were compared to themselves, as this allowed the researchers to take into account the differences between those taking the drugs and those who do not.

Food poisoning cases underreported, food safety specialist says Posted: 18 Jun 2014 08:16 AM PDT There are distinct symptoms for food poisoning and reporting it to your doctor is an important step in improving food safety, a food safety specialist says. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19,056 cases of infection were reported in 2013 in the United States. However, it is expected that many people don't report getting sick from contaminated food because they don't realize they have food poisoning.

Identifying opposite patterns of climate change: Hydrologic seesaw over the past 550,000 years Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:06 AM PDT New research overturns common ideas about the different types of climate changes between the middle latitude areas of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

A call to better protect Antarctica: Human activity threatening continent Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:06 AM PDT With visitor numbers surging, Antarctica's ice-free land needs better protection from human activities, leading environmental scientists say. The new study found that all 55 areas designated for protection lie close to sites of human activity. Antarctica has over 40,000 visitors a year, and more and more research facilities are being built in the continent's tiny ice-free area. Most of the Antarctic wildlife and plants live in the ice-free areas -- and this is also where people most visit.

Satellite data provides picture of underground water Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:06 AM PDT Scientists demonstrate that satellite-collected data can accurately measure aquifer levels, a finding with potentially huge implications for management of precious global water sources.

Electrical switch during labor could be faulty in overweight women Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:06 AM PDT Researchers have identified an electrical switch in the muscle of the uterus that plays a key role in the progression into labor. Crucially, the discovery shows that women who are overweight have a faulty switch. The finding may explain why overweight women have a higher likelihood of irregular contractions and are more likely to require a caesarean section than other women.

The noisy world of mud crabs: Predatory fish sounds can alter crab behavior Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:06 AM PDT Marine crabs are capable of hearing, researchers show for the first time, and their auditory ability plays an important role in their response to fish predators. In a new paper, they show that sound plays at least as much of a role in mud crabs' reaction to fish behavior as other widely studied cues -- and possibly more.

Race a factor in mortality in heart attack patients on anti-clotting drug Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:06 AM PDT The first genetic variations linked to race have been identified that begin to explain a higher risk of death among some African American and Caucasian patients taking the anti-clotting drug clopidogrel after a heart attack. In particular, the team found that two DNA variants common in African Americans were associated with an increased risk of both bleeding and death. In Caucasians, a different variant was linked to additional heart attacks and a higher risk of death.

Hippocampal activity during music listening exposes the memory-boosting power of music Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:05 AM PDT For the first time the hippocampus —- a brain structure crucial for creating long-lasting memories —- has been observed to be active in response to recurring musical phrases while listening to music. Thus, the hippocampal involvement in long-term memory may be less specific than previously thought, indicating that short and long-term memory processes may depend on each other after all.

Horizontal levitation: The ultimate solution to particle separation Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:05 AM PDT Separating particles from the liquid they are in can now be done with a new concept. Magnetic separators exploit the difference in magnetic properties between minerals, for example when separating magnetite from quartz. But this exercise becomes considerably more complex when the particles are not magnetic. In the wake of previous particle levitation experiments under high-power magnetic fields, a new study reveals that particles are deflected away from the magnet's round-shaped bore center in a horizontal direction.

New quantum mechanism to trigger the emission of tunable light at terahertz frequencies Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:05 AM PDT Scientists have found that two-dimensional (2-D) nanostructures with asymmetric design enable a new quantum mechanism, triggering the emission of tunable light at terahertz frequencies-with unprecedented efficiency. The researchers found that quantum wells, 2-D nanostructures formed of several layers of semi-conductor alloys placed on top of each other like a sandwich, can enhance light emission in a technological challenging spectral range.

Yoga exercise program tailored for pulmonary hypertension patients Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:05 AM PDT A first-of-its-kind yoga exercise program has been developed for patients living with pulmonary hypertension, a chronic lung disease that afflicts women at least two times more than men. Called Yoga for PH, the 40-minute program includes three yoga exercise levels and a nutrition and lifestyle discussion.

Punishment plays important role in forgiveness Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:05 AM PDT It's easier for people to forgive someone for doing wrong against them if some form of punishment is involved, according to psychology researchers. "Justice and forgiveness are often considered to be opposites, but we've found that victims who punish their offender are more able to forgive and move on," one researcher says.

Exposure to TV violence related to irregular attention and brain structure Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:05 AM PDT Young adult men who watched more violence on television showed indications of less mature brain development and poorer executive functioning, according to new results. Executive functioning abilities can be important for controlling impulsive behaviors, including aggression.

Fishing resources mapped to assist land managers, anglers Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:05 AM PDT Researchers mapped a cultural ecosystem service by identifying the key features that influence anglers' enjoyment, such as environmental quality, accessibility, and fish abundance. Freshwater recreational fishing generates income, jobs, and funding for conservation. In 2011, more than 27 million people fished U.S. freshwaters, and Americans spent more than $41 billion on fishing-related equipment, licenses, transportation, and other activities. As a result, every state spends substantial public funds annually to support and manage freshwater recreational fishing.

Moral tales with positive outcomes motivate kids to be honest Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:20 AM PDT A moral story that praises a character's honesty is more effective at getting young children to tell the truth than a story that emphasizes the negative repercussions of lying, according to research. The findings suggest that stories such as 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' and 'Pinocchio' may not be effective cautionary tales when it comes to inspiring honest behavior in children.

Supplements of calcium, vitamin D may have too much for some older women Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:20 AM PDT Calcium and vitamin D are commonly recommended for older women, but the usual supplements may send calcium excretion and blood levels too high for some of them, shows a new study. The good news in this study is that the investigators found a way to predict which women were likely to develop these excess levels.

Shortage of cybersecurity professionals poses risk to U.S. national security Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:20 AM PDT The nationwide shortage of cybersecurity professionals -- particularly for positions within the federal government -- creates risks for national and homeland security, according to a new study. Demand for trained cybersecurity professionals who work to protect organizations from cybercrime is high nationwide, but the shortage is particularly severe in the federal government, which does not offer salaries as high as the private sector.

No evidence that soy food protects against endometrial cancer, study finds Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:20 AM PDT No evidence of a protective association between soy food and endometrial cancer risk has been found, concludes a new study. Soy foods are an almost exclusive dietary source of isoflavones, a plant-derived estrogen. Some studies have highlighted their potential cancer protective properties, however, research looking at the link to endometrial cancer has been inconsistent.

Animals conceal sickness symptoms in certain social situations Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:19 AM PDT Animals have the ability to conceal their sickness in certain social situations. According to a new review, when given the opportunity to mate or in the presence of their young, sick animals will behave as though they were healthy. The research has implications for our understanding of the spread of infectious diseases.

Spanish slug: Busting an invasion myth Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:19 AM PDT Spanish slugs (Arion lusitanicus) are one of the most common slug species in Central Europe. The animals sometimes nicknamed "killer slugs" are known to do their fair share of damage in fields and gardens. The slug was thought to have originated in Southern Europe. However researchers have now found out that the prime example of an invasive species is originally from Central Europe and thus no "immigrant" after all.

Gender 'rebalancing' in China: An uncertain future Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:17 AM PDT China is the most gender imbalanced country in the world, with an official sex ratio at birth (SRB) of 117.78 (boys for every one hundred girls) in 2011. Over the past two decades the rise in China's SRB has had a wide range of economic and social consequences. Researchers investigate the future impact of this rise using demographic and economic projections. Their results suggest that even if the Chinese government takes action to rebalance the sex ratio, the long-term picture is uncertain.

Energy-optimized buildings: Keeping a cool head at the workplace Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:17 AM PDT A new climate chamber has been built to study what it is like to work in a comfortable air-conditioned room at high temperatures. The study focused on comfort and user behavior at office workplaces in energy-optimized buildings, with a focus on the effect of ceiling fans under summer conditions. The result: The fan enhances comfort only if it has a cooling effect, and users feel that their control power over the fan is effective.

Proteins in urine could play important role in stress incontinence Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:17 AM PDT Incontinence is the world's most common chronic condition. However, the problem continues to be a taboo subject: two out of three sufferers do not talk about it, preventing access to successful treatment. Stress incontinence, in which urine is lost involuntarily when coughing, laughing or sneezing, is the most common form of incontinence, affecting 60 per cent of all cases. How it develops is largely unresearched. Scientists have now been able to demonstrate that proteins in the urine could play an important role.

World’s first light technology to control proteins in living cells Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:17 AM PDT The world's first technology to control specific protein functions in living cells by using lights has been developed, which may be useful in future cancer cell research. The research group has found that this technology allows scientists to inactivate critical biological phenomena, including cell migration and cell division, by using only lights, and without the assistance of chemical drug treatments or genetic modification.

Birds evolve 'signature' patterns to distinguish cuckoo eggs from their own Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:17 AM PDT For some birds, recognizing their own eggs can be a matter of life or death. In a new study, scientists have shown that many birds affected by the parasitic Common Cuckoo -- which lays its lethal offspring in other birds' nests -- have evolved distinctive patterns on their eggs in order to distinguish them from those laid by a cuckoo cheat.

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