ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Evidence of jet in Milky Way's black hole
• Potential for investigational bioengineered vessel as dialysis graft
• Rediscovered Apollo data gives first measure of how fast moon dust piles up
• Impacts of plant invasions become less robust over time: Invasive plants are more likely to be replaced by other 'invasives'
• Let's just harvest invasive species -- problem solved?
• Aging erodes genetic control, but that's flexible
• Skeletal remains of 24,000-year-old boy raise new questions about first Americans
• What composes the human heart?
• Involving patients in nurses' shift change reduces medical errors, satisfies patients
• U.S. national survey finds frog abnormalities are rare
• Differences in brains of children with nonverbal learning disability
• 3-D printing hits fast lane: Engineers cut time to 3-D-print heterogeneous objects from hours to minutes
• Scientists break a theoretical time barrier on bouncing droplets
• Listen to this: New research upends understanding of how humans perceive sound
• Virtual sailing simulator shows key role of recreation in spinal cord injury rehabilitation
• Secrets of Mars' birth revealed from unique meteorite
• Insomnia linked to mortality risk
• Solar-powered battery woven into fabric overcomes hurdle for 'wearable electronics'
• Invasive sparrows immune cells sharpen as they spread
• Computer searches web 24/7 to analyze images and teach itself common sense
• Coffee may help perk up your blood vessels
• Sixth sense in mechanical engineering: Sensor screw measures forces inside machines
• Magnetic nanoparticles could aid heat dissipation in nuclear plant cooling systems and electronics
• Selecting mathematical models with greatest predictive power: Finding Occam's razor in an era of information overload
• Linking risk factors, disease origins in breast cancer
• Predicting human body height from DNA
• Three new wafer trapdoor spiders from Brazil
• Specially designed nanostructured materials can increase the light-absorbing efficiency of solar cells
• Brain activity in severely brain injured patients who 'wake up' with sleeping pill: Other patients may also respond
• Services fail to treat prisoners with schizophrenia, increasing risk of violent reoffending, UK study shows
• Novel material stores unusually large amounts of hydrogen
• Newly discovered ancestral enzyme facilitates DNA repair
• Distracted driving killing more pedestrians, bicyclists
• CT and 3-D printers used to recreate dinosaur fossils
• World's first known magnetic cellulose loudspeakers: Potential for magnetic cellulose comes in crisp and clear
• The Galaxy's ancient brown dwarf population revealed
• Drug effective in preventing stroke, reducing bleeding, cardiovascular death in patients with atrial fibrillation
• HIV virus spread, evolution studied through computer modeling
• New research links smoking synthetic marijuana with stroke in healthy, young adults
• Demand for details on food labels includes the good – and the bad
• Smaller bowls may help curb childhood obesity
• Many pediatricians uncomfortable providing care to kids with genetic conditions, study concludes
• Advanced CT imaging proves as accurate as invasive tests for heart blockages
• Researchers classify urban residential desert landscapes

Evidence of jet in Milky Way's black hole Posted: 20 Nov 2013 04:24 PM PST Astronomers have long sought strong evidence that Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, is producing a jet of high-energy particles. Finally they have found it.

Potential for investigational bioengineered vessel as dialysis graft Posted: 20 Nov 2013 04:21 PM PST An investigational, human-made blood vessel used in vascular grafts for kidney dialysis patients may potentially show encouraging early results among study patients in Poland, according to preliminary data reported.

Rediscovered Apollo data gives first measure of how fast moon dust piles up Posted: 20 Nov 2013 11:38 AM PST Scientists used rediscovered Apollo data to make the first determination of how fast lunar dust accumulates. It builds up unbelievably slowly by the standards of any Earth-bound housekeeper -- just fast enough to form a layer about a millimeter (0.04 inches) thick every 1,000 years. Yet, that rate is 10 times previous estimates. It's also speedy enough to pose a serious problem for the solar cells that serve as critical power sources for space exploration missions.

Impacts of plant invasions become less robust over time: Invasive plants are more likely to be replaced by other 'invasives' Posted: 20 Nov 2013 11:37 AM PST Among the most impressive ecological findings of the past 25 years is the ability of invasive plants to radically change ecosystem function. Yet few if any studies have examined whether ecosystem impacts of invasions persist over time, and what that means for plant communities and ecosystem restoration.

Let's just harvest invasive species -- problem solved? Posted: 20 Nov 2013 11:37 AM PST According to a recent study , harvesting invasive plants for use as biofuels may sound like a great idea, but the reality poses numerous obstacles and is too expensive to consider, at least with the current ethanol pathways.

Aging erodes genetic control, but that's flexible Posted: 20 Nov 2013 11:37 AM PST In yeast at least, the aging process appears to reduce an organism's ability to silence certain genes that need to be silenced. Now researchers who study the biology of aging have shown that the loss of genetic control occurs in fruit flies as well.

Skeletal remains of 24,000-year-old boy raise new questions about first Americans Posted: 20 Nov 2013 11:36 AM PST Results from a DNA study of a young boy's skeletal remains believed to be 24,000 years old could turn the archaeological world upside down – it's been proven that nearly 30 percent of modern Native American's ancestry came from this youngster's gene pool, suggesting First Americans came directly from Siberia.

What composes the human heart? Posted: 20 Nov 2013 10:40 AM PST A foundational study by researchers has identified the optimal structure and cell ratio associated with heart function -- and the discovery has already led the team to another research first: the engineering of the first-ever living, 3-D human arrhythmic tissue.

Involving patients in nurses' shift change reduces medical errors, satisfies patients Posted: 20 Nov 2013 10:40 AM PST At shift change, incoming and outgoing nurses transfer accountability by exchanging information about the patients under their charge. Called bedside handover, this process empowers patients and allows them to become active partners in their own care.

U.S. national survey finds frog abnormalities are rare Posted: 20 Nov 2013 10:40 AM PST A 10-year study by the US Fish and Wildlife Service shows some good news for frogs and toads on national wildlife refuges. The rate of abnormalities such as shortened or missing legs was less than 2 percent overall -- indicating that the malformations first reported in the mid-1990s were rarer than feared. But much higher rates were found in local "hotspots," suggesting that where these problems occur they have local causes.

Differences in brains of children with nonverbal learning disability Posted: 20 Nov 2013 10:39 AM PST A researcher has discovered the first anatomical evidence that the brains of children with a nonverbal learning disability -- long considered a "pseudo" diagnosis -- may develop differently than the brains of other children.

3-D printing hits fast lane: Engineers cut time to 3-D-print heterogeneous objects from hours to minutes Posted: 20 Nov 2013 10:37 AM PST Three-dimensional printing has long had the potential to revolutionize manufacturing, but so far its application in the marketplace has been held back by slow fabrication, especially for heterogeneous objects. Many objects comprise more than one material, which allows for certain parts to be rigid while other parts remain flexible (e.g. tweezers; prosthetics). Scientists have now developed a 3-D printing process that fabricates such objects very time- and cost-efficiently.

Scientists break a theoretical time barrier on bouncing droplets Posted: 20 Nov 2013 10:37 AM PST Those who study hydrophobic materials -- water-shedding surfaces such as those found in nature and created in the laboratory -- are familiar with a theoretical limit on the time it takes for a water droplet to bounce away from such a surface. But researchers have now found a way to burst through that perceived barrier, reducing the contact time by at least 40 percent.

Listen to this: New research upends understanding of how humans perceive sound Posted: 20 Nov 2013 10:37 AM PST A key piece of the scientific model used for the past 30 years to help explain how humans perceive sound is wrong, according to a new study.

Virtual sailing simulator shows key role of recreation in spinal cord injury rehabilitation Posted: 20 Nov 2013 10:36 AM PST Researchers conducted a study on the role of a hands on virtual sailing simulator for use in rehabilitation following a spinal cord injury.

Secrets of Mars' birth revealed from unique meteorite Posted: 20 Nov 2013 10:35 AM PST As NASA prepares to launch a new Martian probe, a Florida State University scientist has uncovered what may be the first recognized example of ancient Martian crust. Using a powerful microprobe scientists dated special crystals within the meteorite -- called zircons -- at an astounding 4.4 billion years old.

Insomnia linked to mortality risk Posted: 20 Nov 2013 08:20 AM PST Insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, affects up to one-third of the population in the United States. In new findings, researchers have found that some insomnia symptoms are associated with an increased risk of mortality in men.

Solar-powered battery woven into fabric overcomes hurdle for 'wearable electronics' Posted: 20 Nov 2013 08:20 AM PST Though some people already seem inseparable from their smartphones, even more convenient, wearable, solar-powered electronics could be on the way soon, woven into clothing fibers or incorporated into watchbands. This novel battery development could usher in a new era of "wearable electronics."

Invasive sparrows immune cells sharpen as they spread Posted: 20 Nov 2013 08:19 AM PST Researchers find the immune systems of house sparrows at the edge of the species' range in Kenya were more attuned to finding dangerous parasites than birds from older sites in the same country. These differences may help keep invading birds from becoming sick in new areas where pathogens are more likely novel.

Computer searches web 24/7 to analyze images and teach itself common sense Posted: 20 Nov 2013 08:19 AM PST A computer program called the Never Ending Image Learner (NEIL) is running 24 hours a day searching the Internet for images, doing its best to understand them on its own and, as it builds a growing visual database, gathering common sense on a massive scale.

Coffee may help perk up your blood vessels Posted: 20 Nov 2013 08:19 AM PST A small study showed that a cup of coffee improved small blood vessel function. The study takes us one step closer to understanding how coffee might benefit cardiovascular health.

Sixth sense in mechanical engineering: Sensor screw measures forces inside machines Posted: 20 Nov 2013 08:18 AM PST An age-old engineering problem: how do you precisely measure the forces that act between two components inside a machine or, for example, on the sail of a boat without drilling holes or sticking on a sensor? Researchers have now developed a brilliantly simple solution: a screw with an integrated sensor.

Magnetic nanoparticles could aid heat dissipation in nuclear plant cooling systems and electronics Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:36 AM PST Researchers find that particles suspended in cooling water could prevent hotspots in nuclear plant cooling systems and electronics.

Selecting mathematical models with greatest predictive power: Finding Occam's razor in an era of information overload Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:36 AM PST How to predict actions and reactions of things invisible to human eye? Physicists now show that there may be a preferred strategy for selecting mathematical models with the greatest predictive power. Picking the best model is about sticking to the simplest line of reasoning, experts say.

Linking risk factors, disease origins in breast cancer Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:36 AM PST Researchers have found that epigenetic changes to DNA are associated with aging in disease-free breast tissues and are further altered in breast tumors. Epigenetic changes describe heritable alterations caused by mechanisms other than by changes in DNA sequence. The discovery illustrates how cancer and aging are tightly interconnected processes by identifying epigenetic alterations present in the normal aging breast that may increase disease risk in cancer-free individuals.

Predicting human body height from DNA Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:36 AM PST Predicting adult body height from genetic data is helpful in several areas such as pediatric endocrinology and forensic investigations. However, despite large international efforts to catalog the genes that influence the stature of humans, knowledge on genetic determinants of adult body height is still incomplete. Now DNA-based prediction of taller-than-average body height is feasible.

Three new wafer trapdoor spiders from Brazil Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:36 AM PST Scientists have discovered three new gorgeous species of the wafer trapdoor genus Fufius. Little is known about the biology of the enigmatic Cyrtaucheniidae family, but among the curiosities is that these spiders live in burrows or silken tubes in crevices, carefully prolongued with silk.

Specially designed nanostructured materials can increase the light-absorbing efficiency of solar cells Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:34 AM PST The Sun is our most promising source of clean and renewable energy. The energy that reaches Earth from the Sun in an hour is almost equivalent to that consumed by humans over a year. Solar cells can tap this massive source of energy by converting light into an electrical current. However, these devices still require significant improvements in efficiency before they can compete with more traditional energy sources. New research has increased the light-absorbing efficiency of solar cells.

Brain activity in severely brain injured patients who 'wake up' with sleeping pill: Other patients may also respond Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:06 AM PST George Melendez has been called a medical miracle. After a near drowning deprived his brain of oxygen, Melendez remained in a fitful, minimally conscious state until his mother, in 2002, decided to give him the sleep aid drug Ambien to quiet his moaning and writhing. The next thing she knew, her son was quietly looking at her and trying to talk. He has been using the drug ever since to maintain awareness, but no one could understand why Ambien led to such an awakening.

Services fail to treat prisoners with schizophrenia, increasing risk of violent reoffending, UK study shows Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:06 AM PST New research shows released prisoners with schizophrenia are three times more likely to be violent than other prisoners, but only if they receive no treatment or follow-up support from mental health services.

Novel material stores unusually large amounts of hydrogen Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:06 AM PST Researchers has synthesized a new material that stores an unusually large amount of hydrogen. Performing high-pressure X-ray studies, the scientists detected the formation of previously unobserved iridium hydride at a pressure of 55 gigapascals, corresponding to approximately 550,000 times the Earth's atmospheric pressure. The new material can store up to three times more hydrogen than most other metal hydrides.

Newly discovered ancestral enzyme facilitates DNA repair Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:06 AM PST Researchers have discovered how a new human enzyme, the protein PrimPol, is capable of recognizing DNA lesions and facilitate their repair during the DNA copying process, thus avoiding irreversible and lethal damage to the cells and, therefore, to the organism.

Distracted driving killing more pedestrians, bicyclists Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:03 AM PST From 2005 to 2010, the national number of pedestrians struck and killed by distracted drivers went up from 344 to 500 – an almost 50 percent increase. For cyclists, the numbers killed went from 56 to 73 — a 30 percent increase.

CT and 3-D printers used to recreate dinosaur fossils Posted: 20 Nov 2013 05:14 AM PST Data from computed tomography scans can be used with three-dimensional printers to make accurate copies of fossilized bones, according to new research.

World's first known magnetic cellulose loudspeakers: Potential for magnetic cellulose comes in crisp and clear Posted: 20 Nov 2013 05:13 AM PST They're flat, ultra-thin and great-sounding. The world's first known magnetic cellulose loudspeakers have been demonstrated.

The Galaxy's ancient brown dwarf population revealed Posted: 20 Nov 2013 05:11 AM PST Astronomers have discovered two of the oldest brown dwarfs in the Galaxy. These ancient objects are moving at speeds of 100-200 kilometers per second, much faster than normal stars and other brown dwarfs and are thought to have formed when the Galaxy was very young, more than 10 billion years ago.

Drug effective in preventing stroke, reducing bleeding, cardiovascular death in patients with atrial fibrillation Posted: 19 Nov 2013 12:30 PM PST A late-breaking clinical trial demonstrates that high- and low-dose edoxaban were at least as effective in preventing stroke or systemic embolism (blood clot), while significantly reducing bleeding and cardiovascular death, compared to warfarin.

HIV virus spread, evolution studied through computer modeling Posted: 19 Nov 2013 11:22 AM PST Researchers are investigating the complex relationships between the spread of the HIV virus in a population (epidemiology) and the actual, rapid evolution of the virus (phylogenetics) within each patient's body.

New research links smoking synthetic marijuana with stroke in healthy, young adults Posted: 19 Nov 2013 11:22 AM PST Add stroke to the list of severe health hazards that may be associated with smoking synthetic marijuana, popularly known as spice or K2, a neurology team reports.

Demand for details on food labels includes the good – and the bad Posted: 19 Nov 2013 10:08 AM PST It's no surprise that labels are becoming the "go to" place when people have questions about how food is produced. But new research finds that consumers crave more information, especially for the potentially harmful ingredients that aren't included in the product.

Smaller bowls may help curb childhood obesity Posted: 19 Nov 2013 10:08 AM PST Smaller bowl sizes may be the next weapon in the battle against childhood obesity, says a new study that found children not only ask for more food to fill larger bowls, but they also eat 52 percent more.

Many pediatricians uncomfortable providing care to kids with genetic conditions, study concludes Posted: 19 Nov 2013 10:08 AM PST A new study finds general physicians order few genetic tests, don't always discuss risks and benefits; take limited family histories.

Advanced CT imaging proves as accurate as invasive tests for heart blockages Posted: 19 Nov 2013 10:08 AM PST An ultrafast, 320-detector computed tomography (CT) scanner that shows both anatomy within coronary arteries and blood flowcan accurately sort out which people need – or don't need – an invasive procedure to identify coronary blockages, according to an international study. The researchers say their findings could potentially save millions of people worldwide from having an unnecessary cardiac catheterization.

Researchers classify urban residential desert landscapes Posted: 19 Nov 2013 08:28 AM PST Researchers developed a method to quantitatively classify urban residential landscapes in a desert environment in New Mexico. The team studied areas around 54 homes and classified 93 percent of all the landscapes into nine common types. Results also showed that landscape types are distributed differently in front- and backyard landscapes in the desert environment. They anticipate that the study will help landscape horticulturists to design water conservation plans that are landscape-specific.

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