ScienceDaily: Top News

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• A micro-muscular breakthrough: Powerful new microscale torsional muscle/motor from vanadium dioxide
• Ancient cranial surgery: Practice of drilling holes in the cranium that dates back thousands of years
• Driving force behind mitochondrial 'sex' in ancient flowering plant
• Researchers generate kidney tubular cells from stem cells
• Bullying in academia more prevalent than thought
• Black-white infant mortality gap: Large, persistent, unpredictable
• Telecoupling science shows China's forest sustainability packs global impact
• Mating is kiss of death for certain female worms
• Graphene-based field-effect transistor with semiconducting nature opens up practical use in electronics
• Graphene sees the light: Sheets of carbon just one atom thick could be used in photovoltaic cells
• Catching the big wave: 'Universal ripple' could hold the secret to high-temperature superconductivity
• Electron 'antenna' tunes in to physics beyond Higgs
• The origin of flowers: DNA of storied plant provides insight into the evolution of flowering plants
• New way to map important drug targets
• New salt compounds challenge the foundation of chemistry
• With sinus study, harmless members of microbiome spark immune reaction
• Nutrition influences metabolism through circadian rhythms, study finds
• DNA clamp to grab cancer before it develops
• New data compression method reduces big-data bottleneck; outperforms, enhances JPEG
• Coastal ocean aquaculture can be environmentally sustainable
• Ways of the photoelectric effect; How physicists have learned how to select them
• Controlling parasitic worms with genetic selection
• Brain connections may explain why girls mature faster
• Congenital heart disease causes hypoglycaemia
• Evolution of plumage patterns in male and female birds
• Healthier happy meals
• Chewing gum is often culprit for migraine headaches in teens
• Monthly appointments with pharmacists improve medication adherence
• A new -- and reversible -- cause of aging: A naturally produced compound rewinds aspects of age-related demise in mice
• Data are lost to science at 'astonishing rate'
• First cancer operation room with navigator is created
• Biomechanics of how marine snail larvae swim
• Lemur babies of older moms less likely to get hurt
• Big data project reveals where carbon-stocking projects in Africa provide greatest benefits
• New magnetic behaviour in nanoparticles could lead to even smaller digital memories
• Lonely this Christmas? Hire an 18th century hermit
• Robotic grasp: Robot picks up castors as fast as blueberries
• Anti-epilepsy drugs can cause inflammation
• Stress reaction gene linked to death, heart attacks
• World's first text message using vodka: Messages sent via molecules can aid communication underground, underwater or inside the body
• Emerald ash borer may have met its match
• With surgical robot, similar outcomes higher cost
• Contraception program effectively manages bison population
• H1N1-triggered narcolepsy may stem from 'molecular mimicry'
• Newly identified immune receptor may activate B cells in autoimmunity
• Researchers identify genetic marker of resistance to key malaria drug
• Immune avoidance mechanism could lead to treatments for deadly mosquito-borne viruses
• Obese children have higher stress hormone levels than normal weight peers
• Diet rich in tomatoes may lower breast cancer risk

A micro-muscular breakthrough: Powerful new microscale torsional muscle/motor from vanadium dioxide Posted: 19 Dec 2013 05:01 PM PST Researchers have demonstrated a micro-sized robotic torsional muscle/motor made from vanadium dioxide that for its size is a thousand times more powerful than a human muscle, able to catapult objects 50 times heavier than itself over a distance five times its length faster than the blink of an eye.

Ancient cranial surgery: Practice of drilling holes in the cranium that dates back thousands of years Posted: 19 Dec 2013 05:00 PM PST Some might consider drilling a hole in someone's head a form of torture, but in the province of Ahdahuaylas in Peru, ca. AD 100-1250, it was state-of-the-art medical care.

Driving force behind mitochondrial 'sex' in ancient flowering plant Posted: 19 Dec 2013 04:59 PM PST A new study has uncovered an unprecedented example of horizontal gene transfer in a South Pacific shrub that is considered to be the sole survivor of one of the two oldest lineages of flowering plants.

Researchers generate kidney tubular cells from stem cells Posted: 19 Dec 2013 04:59 PM PST Investigators have discovered a cocktail of chemicals which, when added to stem cells in a precise order, turns on genes found in kidney cells in the same order that they turn on during embryonic kidney development. The kidney cells continued to behave like kidney cells when transplanted into adult or embryonic mouse kidneys.

Bullying in academia more prevalent than thought Posted: 19 Dec 2013 01:29 PM PST Bullying isn't only a problem that occurs in schools or online among young people. It can happen anywhere to anyone, and a nursing scholar is shedding some light on how it is becoming increasingly common in academia.

Black-white infant mortality gap: Large, persistent, unpredictable Posted: 19 Dec 2013 01:29 PM PST The unobservable factors that underpin the infant mortality gap between blacks and whites have persisted for more than 20 years and now appear to play a larger role than the observable factors, according to a new study.

Telecoupling science shows China's forest sustainability packs global impact Posted: 19 Dec 2013 12:45 PM PST As China increases its forests, a sustainability scholar proposes a new way to answer the question: if a tree doesn't fall in China, can you hear it elsewhere in the world?

Mating is kiss of death for certain female worms Posted: 19 Dec 2013 12:45 PM PST The presence of male sperm and seminal fluid causes female worms to shrivel and die after giving birth, researchers reported this week. The demise of the female appears to benefit the male worm by removing her from the mating pool for other males.

Graphene-based field-effect transistor with semiconducting nature opens up practical use in electronics Posted: 19 Dec 2013 12:44 PM PST Scientists have announced a method for the mass production of boron/nitrogen co-doped graphene nanoplatelets, which led to the fabrication of a graphene-based field-effect transistor (FET) with semiconducting nature. This opens up opportunities for practical use in electronic devices.

Graphene sees the light: Sheets of carbon just one atom thick could be used in photovoltaic cells Posted: 19 Dec 2013 12:44 PM PST Sheets of carbon just one atom thick could make effective transparent electrodes in certain types of photovoltaic cells.

Catching the big wave: 'Universal ripple' could hold the secret to high-temperature superconductivity Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:23 AM PST Researchers have discovered a universal electronic state that controls the behavior of high-temperature superconducting copper-oxide ceramics.

Electron 'antenna' tunes in to physics beyond Higgs Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:23 AM PST In making the most precise measurements ever of the shape of electrons, a team of Harvard and Yale scientists have raised severe doubts about several popular theories of what lies beyond the Higgs boson.

The origin of flowers: DNA of storied plant provides insight into the evolution of flowering plants Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:22 AM PST Biologists have sequenced the genome of the Amborella plant. The genome sequence sheds new light on a major event in the history of life on Earth: the origin of flowering plants, including all major food crop species.

New way to map important drug targets Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:21 AM PST Researchers have used new techniques and one of the brightest X-ray sources on the planet to map the 3-D structure of an important cellular gatekeeper in a more natural state than possible before.

New salt compounds challenge the foundation of chemistry Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:21 AM PST All good research breaks new ground, but rarely does the research unearth truths that challenge the foundation of a science. That's what chemists have now done. Scientists have compressed sodium chloride—rock salt—to form new compounds.

With sinus study, harmless members of microbiome spark immune reaction Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:44 AM PST Researchers have found evidence that some chronic sinus issues may be the result of inflammation.

Nutrition influences metabolism through circadian rhythms, study finds Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:44 AM PST A high-fat diet affects the molecular mechanism controlling the internal body clock that regulates metabolic functions in the liver, scientists have found. Disruption of these circadian rhythms may contribute to metabolic distress ailments, such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure.

DNA clamp to grab cancer before it develops Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:44 AM PST As part of an international research project, a team of researchers has developed a DNA clamp that can detect mutations at the DNA level with greater efficiency than methods currently in use. Their work could facilitate rapid screening of those diseases that have a genetic basis, such as cancer, and provide new tools for more advanced nanotechnology.

New data compression method reduces big-data bottleneck; outperforms, enhances JPEG Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:12 AM PST In creating an entirely new way to compress data, a team of researchers has drawn inspiration from physics and the arts. The result is a new data compression method that outperforms existing techniques, such as JPEG for images, and that could eventually be adopted for medical, scientific and video streaming applications.

Coastal ocean aquaculture can be environmentally sustainable Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:12 AM PST Specific types of fish farming can be accomplished with minimal or no harm to the coastal ocean environment as long as proper planning and safeguards are in place, according to a new report.

Ways of the photoelectric effect; How physicists have learned how to select them Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:12 AM PST Scientists have managed, for the first time in the history of photoelectric studies, to eliminate one serious obstacle that hampered these investigations for many years -- namely, the nuclear magnetic moment.

Controlling parasitic worms with genetic selection Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:12 AM PST Helminths are gastrointestinal parasitic worms that have become a major concern and source of economic loss for sheep producers around the world. A new article reviews current research into a promising alternative to control the disease.

Brain connections may explain why girls mature faster Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:11 AM PST Scientists have discovered that as the brain re-organizes connections throughout our life, the process begins earlier in girls which may explain why they mature faster during the teenage years.

Congenital heart disease causes hypoglycaemia Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:11 AM PST In a new study, scientists document a connection between congenital arrhythmia and the bodies' ability to handle sugar. The results can be of vital importance for patients with the disease and for the future treatment of diabetes.

Evolution of plumage patterns in male and female birds Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:11 AM PST Research looks at the evolutionary pathways to differences in bird plumage patterns between males and females -- and concludes that birds are able to adapt their appearance with remarkable ease.

Healthier happy meals Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:10 AM PST What would happen if a fast-food restaurant reduces the calories in a children's meal by 104 calories, mainly by decreasing the portion size of French fries? Would children compensate by choosing a more calorie dense entrée or beverage? Researchers analyzed transaction data from 30 representative McDonald's restaurants to answer that question.

Chewing gum is often culprit for migraine headaches in teens Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:09 AM PST A researcher has found that gum-chewing teenagers, and younger children as well, are giving themselves headaches with this habit. These findings could help treat countless cases of migraine and tension headaches in adolescents without the need for additional testing or medication.

Monthly appointments with pharmacists improve medication adherence Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:09 AM PST Patients are more likely to take chronic medications when they meet monthly with pharmacists to coordinate medication schedules and treatments, according to a study.

A new -- and reversible -- cause of aging: A naturally produced compound rewinds aspects of age-related demise in mice Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:07 AM PST Researchers have discovered a cause of aging in mammals involving a series of molecular events that disables communication between the nucleus and mitochondria. By administering a molecule naturally produced by the human body, the communication network was restored in older mice. Subsequent tissue samples showed biological hallmarks comparable to much younger animals.

Data are lost to science at 'astonishing rate' Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:07 AM PST New evidence confirms long-held fears about the fate of scientific data. Careful evaluation of more than 500 randomly selected studies found that the original data behind those published papers have been lost to science at a rapid rate.

First cancer operation room with navigator is created Posted: 19 Dec 2013 09:30 AM PST A team of researchers have started the first cancer operation room with a navigator. This image-guided system will allow for increased intraoperative radiotherapy safety.

Biomechanics of how marine snail larvae swim Posted: 19 Dec 2013 06:36 AM PST Equipped with high-speed, high-resolution video, scientists have discovered important new information on how marine snail larvae swim, a key behavior that determines individual dispersal and ultimately, survival.

Lemur babies of older moms less likely to get hurt Posted: 19 Dec 2013 06:36 AM PST A long-term study of aggression in lemurs finds that infants born to older mothers are less likely to get hurt than those born to younger mothers. The findings come from an analysis of detailed medical records for more than 240 ring-tailed lemurs that were monitored daily from infancy to adulthood over a 35-year period.

Big data project reveals where carbon-stocking projects in Africa provide greatest benefits Posted: 19 Dec 2013 06:35 AM PST One way to reduce concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is to ensure that carbon is stored on the ground to the greatest extent possible. But how do you quantify the potential of landscapes to stock carbon? Researchers now present the first continental-scale assessment of which areas may provide the greatest direct and indirect benefits from carbon storage reforestation projects in Africa.

New magnetic behaviour in nanoparticles could lead to even smaller digital memories Posted: 19 Dec 2013 06:34 AM PST Researchers have created a new behavior in magnetic core/shell nanoparticles. It could lead to the creation of even smaller and higher capacity digital memories.

Lonely this Christmas? Hire an 18th century hermit Posted: 19 Dec 2013 06:34 AM PST For those who are wondering what to buy the person who has everything this Christmas, an academic has suggested one of history's most bizarre garden accessories: an 'ornamental' hermit.

Robotic grasp: Robot picks up castors as fast as blueberries Posted: 19 Dec 2013 06:34 AM PST The robot effortlessly picks up one castor after another from the pile in the box and puts them into the channel. No matter how the wheels are lying, the robot manages to get an exact grip.

Anti-epilepsy drugs can cause inflammation Posted: 19 Dec 2013 05:27 AM PST Physicians have been investigating if established anti-epilepsy drugs have anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory properties – an effect for which these pharmaceutical agents are not usually tested. One of the substances tested caused stronger inflammations, while another one inhibited them. As inflammatory reactions in the brain may be the underlying cause for epileptic disorders, it is vital to take the trigger for the disorder under consideration when selecting drugs for treatment, as the researchers concluded.

Stress reaction gene linked to death, heart attacks Posted: 19 Dec 2013 05:25 AM PST A genetic trait known to make some people especially sensitive to stress also appears to be responsible for a 38 percent increased risk of heart attack or death in patients with heart disease, scientists report.

World's first text message using vodka: Messages sent via molecules can aid communication underground, underwater or inside the body Posted: 18 Dec 2013 02:08 PM PST Scientists have created a molecular communications system for the transmission of messages and data in challenging environments such as tunnels, pipelines, under water and within the body.

Emerald ash borer may have met its match Posted: 18 Dec 2013 02:08 PM PST Woodpeckers find emerald ash borers a handy food source and may slow the spread of this noxious pest, even ultimately controlling it, suggest researchers.

With surgical robot, similar outcomes higher cost Posted: 18 Dec 2013 02:07 PM PST In a study of national data on colon surgery, researchers found that while patients who undergo either minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery or the high-tech robotic approach have similar outcomes, robotic surgery is significantly more expensive.

Contraception program effectively manages bison population Posted: 18 Dec 2013 12:26 PM PST A new study reports that a contraception program proved effective in managing a bison herd's numbers. Previously, more than two-thirds of the cows delivered calves every year. After receiving the contraceptive, the calving rate dropped to 10.4 percent in the first year and 3.3 percent the following year.

H1N1-triggered narcolepsy may stem from 'molecular mimicry' Posted: 18 Dec 2013 11:37 AM PST In genetically susceptible people, narcolepsy can sometimes be triggered by a similarity between a region of a protein called hypocretin and a portion of a protein from the pandemic H1N1 virus, according to a new study.

Newly identified immune receptor may activate B cells in autoimmunity Posted: 18 Dec 2013 11:37 AM PST A newly identified immune protein influences each person's response to vaccines and risk for autoimmune diseases like lupus and multiple sclerosis. The protein, called a receptor and part of signaling pathways, also provides a new target for personalized therapies for patients with autoimmune diseases.

Researchers identify genetic marker of resistance to key malaria drug Posted: 18 Dec 2013 10:37 AM PST An international team of researchers has discovered a way to identify, at a molecular level, malaria-causing Plasmodium falciparum parasites that are resistant to artemisinin, the key drug for treating this disease.

Immune avoidance mechanism could lead to treatments for deadly mosquito-borne viruses Posted: 18 Dec 2013 10:36 AM PST A mosquito-borne virus that kills about half of the people it infects uses a never-before-documented mechanism to "hijack" one of the cellular regulatory systems of its hosts to suppress immunity, according scientists. The discovery could aid in the development of vaccines and treatments for eastern equine encephalitis virus.

Obese children have higher stress hormone levels than normal weight peers Posted: 18 Dec 2013 10:35 AM PST Obese children naturally produce higher levels of a key stress hormone than their normal weight peers, according to new research.

Diet rich in tomatoes may lower breast cancer risk Posted: 18 Dec 2013 10:35 AM PST A tomato-rich diet may help protect at-risk postmenopausal women from breast cancer, according to new research.

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