ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• We will fight them with mosquitoes: Historical evidence of biological weapons research in Nazi Germany
• Why did the orangutan come down from the trees?
• Fossil teeth shows that environment, as well as diet, may impact dental wear
• Love is good for the heart, cardiologist says
• Reindeer counteract certain effects of climate change
• Gold medal cross-country skis for all: Embedded microchip shows optimal wax zones
• Brain process takes paper shape
• Geophysicist teams with mathematicians to describe how river rocks round
• Ancient settlements and modern cities follow same rules of development
• Whales viewed from space: Satellite technology can be used to count whales
• Ancient reptile birth preserved in fossil: Ichthyosaur fossil may show oldest live reptilian birth
• Winning at darts: Timing of dart release or hand position may improve dart throwing accuracy
• Mathematical beauty activates same brain region as great art or music
• Debilitating effects of disease on toy dog breeds uncovered
• Relocating 'nuisance' animals often unhealthy for wildlife
• No such thing as porn 'addiction,' researchers say
• Well-child visits linked to more than 700,000 subsequent flu-like illnesses
• Experiments show initial gain in fusion fuel
• Solving an evolutionary puzzle: Atlantic killifish thriving in highly polluted water
• Motion-capture cameras, computer software assist skaters with jumps
• Meeting the eye-witnesses of ocean change
• Technology decodes more information from single photons
• Plastic shopping bags make a fine diesel fuel
• Madagascar sells first forest carbon credits to Microsoft
• Genome of clonal raider ant provides promising model to study social evolution and behavior
• New species of Oak hidden away in the greenery of Ton Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary
• Weather changes may be linked with stroke hospitalization, death
• Concentrating solar power: Similar values in two technologies
• Lost and found: New beetle collected by Darwin 180 years ago published on his birthday
• Icing wind tunnel blows cold and hard to study ice on wings, turbine blades
• Weight loss program for infrared cameras
• Genomes of Richard III and his proven relative to be sequenced

We will fight them with mosquitoes: Historical evidence of biological weapons research in Nazi Germany Posted: 13 Feb 2014 06:51 AM PST Scientist finds historical evidence of biological weapons research in Nazi Germany. Researchers came to the conclusion that, although a major entomological institute was established to combat insect-borne diseases such as typhoid, it also carried out research into whether mosquitoes -- which host malaria -- could be used in biological warfare.

Why did the orangutan come down from the trees? Posted: 13 Feb 2014 06:51 AM PST Orangutans come down from the trees and spend more time on the ground than previously realized -- but this behavior may be partly influenced by humans, a new study has found.

Fossil teeth shows that environment, as well as diet, may impact dental wear Posted: 13 Feb 2014 06:50 AM PST Researchers have established that pits and scratches on the teeth of mammal fossils give important clues to the diet of creatures that lived millions of years ago. A new study of dental microwear on shrews suggests that environment may impact teeth, as well.

Love is good for the heart, cardiologist says Posted: 13 Feb 2014 06:50 AM PST With Valentine's Day just one day away, a cardiologist says being involved in a healthy, loving relationship is good for the heart.

Reindeer counteract certain effects of climate change Posted: 13 Feb 2014 05:40 AM PST One of the consequences of a warmer climate can be that lowland and southern plants migrate higher up in the mountains. Ecologists now show that reindeer, voles and hare can prevent these invasions.

Gold medal cross-country skis for all: Embedded microchip shows optimal wax zones Posted: 13 Feb 2014 05:40 AM PST For elite cross-country skiers, the search for championship skis is a serious, scientific pursuit. Now, with personalized skis embedded with a microchip, information about the optimal wax zone is at the fingertips of any skier equipped with a smartphone and a simple app.

Brain process takes paper shape Posted: 12 Feb 2014 06:23 PM PST A paper-based device that mimics the electrochemical signalling in the human brain has been created by a group of researchers from China. The thin-film transistor (TFT) has been designed to replicate the junction between two neurons, known as a biological synapse, and could become a key component in the development of artificial neural networks, which could be utilized in a range of fields from robotics to computer processing.

Geophysicist teams with mathematicians to describe how river rocks round Posted: 12 Feb 2014 03:37 PM PST For centuries, geologists have recognized that the rocks that line riverbeds tend to be smaller and rounder further downstream. But these experts have not agreed on the reason these patterns exist. Abrasion causes rocks to grind down and become rounder as they are transported down the river. Does this grinding reduce the size of rocks significantly, or is it that smaller rocks are simply more easily transported downstream? A new study has arrived at a resolution to this puzzle.

Ancient settlements and modern cities follow same rules of development Posted: 12 Feb 2014 03:37 PM PST Recently derived equations that describe development patterns in modern urban areas appear to work equally well to describe ancient cities settled thousands of years ago, according to a new study.

Whales viewed from space: Satellite technology can be used to count whales Posted: 12 Feb 2014 03:37 PM PST Scientists have demonstrated how new satellite technology can be used to count whales, and ultimately estimate their population size. Using Very High Resolution satellite imagery, alongside image processing software, they were able to automatically detect and count whales breeding in part of the Golfo Nuevo, Peninsula Valdes in Argentina.

Ancient reptile birth preserved in fossil: Ichthyosaur fossil may show oldest live reptilian birth Posted: 12 Feb 2014 03:37 PM PST Ichthyosaurs were giant marine reptiles that evolved from land reptiles and moved to the water. Scientists report a new fossil specimen that belongs to Chaohusaurus (Reptilia, Ichthyopterygia), the oldest of Mesozoic marine reptiles that lived approximately 248 million years ago. The partial skeleton was recovered in China and may show a live birth.

Winning at darts: Timing of dart release or hand position may improve dart throwing accuracy Posted: 12 Feb 2014 03:36 PM PST Two major strategies are attributed to accurate throwing: timing the object release, and the using hand positioning at release to compensate for releasing the object at variable times. To better understand these strategies, researchers investigated whether expert dart players utilize hand movement that can compensate for the variability in their release timing.

Mathematical beauty activates same brain region as great art or music Posted: 12 Feb 2014 03:35 PM PST People who appreciate the beauty of mathematics activate the same part of their brain when they look at aesthetically pleasing formula as others do when appreciating art or music, suggesting that there is a neurobiological basis to beauty.

Debilitating effects of disease on toy dog breeds uncovered Posted: 12 Feb 2014 03:35 PM PST A new study has identified the specific effect Chiari malformation has on the shape of a dog's skull and brain. This condition has become prevalent as a result of selective breeding and affects many toy dog breeds which have been bred to look more doll-like, including Griffon Bruxellois, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chihuahuas and their crosses.

Relocating 'nuisance' animals often unhealthy for wildlife Posted: 12 Feb 2014 01:43 PM PST The long-distance relocation of nuisance animals may appear to benefit both people and wildlife, but often the animals end up dead. Research suggests such human/animal conflicts are best solved with short-distance relocations instead.

No such thing as porn 'addiction,' researchers say Posted: 12 Feb 2014 12:32 PM PST Journalists and psychologists are quick to describe someone as being a porn "addict," yet there's no strong scientific research that shows such addictions actually exists. So says a clinical psychologist in practice in a large behavioral health program.

Well-child visits linked to more than 700,000 subsequent flu-like illnesses Posted: 12 Feb 2014 11:46 AM PST New research shows that well-child doctor appointments for annual exams and vaccinations are associated with an increased risk of flu-like illnesses in children and family members within two weeks of the visit. This risk translates to more than 700,000 potentially avoidable illnesses each year, costing more than $490 million annually.

Experiments show initial gain in fusion fuel Posted: 12 Feb 2014 11:46 AM PST Ignition -- the process of releasing fusion energy equal to or greater than the amount of energy used to confine the fuel -- has long been considered the "holy grail" of inertial confinement fusion science. A key step along the path to ignition is to have "fuel gains" greater than unity, where the energy generated through fusion reactions exceeds the amount of energy deposited into the fusion fuel.

Solving an evolutionary puzzle: Atlantic killifish thriving in highly polluted water Posted: 12 Feb 2014 11:46 AM PST For four decades, waste from nearby manufacturing plants flowed into the waters of New Bedford Harbor -- an 18,000-acre estuary and busy seaport. The harbor, which is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals, is one of the EPA's largest Superfund cleanup sites. It's also the site of an evolutionary puzzle that researchers have been working to solve.

Motion-capture cameras, computer software assist skaters with jumps Posted: 12 Feb 2014 11:45 AM PST Physicists studying skating know that proper air position is critical to successful jumps. A computer simulation now enables skaters and their coaches to observe an athlete's actual movements on a computer screen and then see how those movements can be manipulated to improve jumping technique.

Meeting the eye-witnesses of ocean change Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:29 AM PST Scientists are developing a model that links ecosystem changes triggered by ocean acidification and climate change with their economic and societal consequences.

Technology decodes more information from single photons Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:29 AM PST It's not quite Star Trek communications. Yet. But long-distance communications in space may be easier now that researchers have designed a clever detector array that can extract more information than usual from single particles of light.

Plastic shopping bags make a fine diesel fuel Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:28 AM PST Plastic shopping bags, an abundant source of litter on land and at sea, can be converted into diesel, natural gas and other useful petroleum products, researchers report. The conversion produces significantly more energy than it requires and results in transportation fuels -- diesel, for example -- that can be blended with existing ultra-low-sulfur diesels and biodiesels.

Madagascar sells first forest carbon credits to Microsoft Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:26 AM PST The Government of Madagascar has approved carbon sales with Microsoft and its carbon offset partner, The CarbonNeutral Company, and Zoo Zurich.

Genome of clonal raider ant provides promising model to study social evolution and behavior Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:28 AM PST The genome of clonal raider ant provides a promising model to study social evolution and behavior.

New species of Oak hidden away in the greenery of Ton Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:26 AM PST Scientists describe a new species of Stone Oak uncovered amidst the astonishing biodiversity of the Ton Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand. The new species is distinguished by its uniquely shaped acorns and is endemic not only for Thailand but at the moment there are no other records known outside the heart of this wildlife sanctuary.

Weather changes may be linked with stroke hospitalization, death Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:25 AM PST Stroke hospitalization and death rates may be associated with changes in environmental temperature and dew point. Large daily temperature changes and higher average dew points may be linked with higher stroke hospitalizations.

Concentrating solar power: Similar values in two technologies Posted: 12 Feb 2014 06:33 AM PST Parabolic troughs and dry-cooled towers deliver similar value for concentrating solar power plants, despite different solar profiles, a new report has found.

Lost and found: New beetle collected by Darwin 180 years ago published on his birthday Posted: 12 Feb 2014 06:33 AM PST On Feb. 12, Darwin's birthday, scientists name a long lost new beetle genus and species after him to commemorate the legacy of the father of evolution. The beetle was collected by Charles Darwin in 1832 in Argentina during the Beagle's voyage. The specimen was considered lost for many years until it was rediscovered recently in the Natural History Museum, London.

Icing wind tunnel blows cold and hard to study ice on wings, turbine blades Posted: 12 Feb 2014 06:31 AM PST Engineers have refurbished an icing wind tunnel and are using it to study ice buildup on aircraft wings and wind turbine blades. A better understanding of the icing problems could lead to better solutions.

Weight loss program for infrared cameras Posted: 12 Feb 2014 05:19 AM PST Infrared sensors can be employed in a wide range of applications, such as driver assistance systems for vehicles or thermography for buildings. A new camera is providing a test bed for development of new products that use these detectors.

Genomes of Richard III and his proven relative to be sequenced Posted: 12 Feb 2014 04:49 AM PST The genomes of King Richard III and one of his family's direct living descendants are to be sequenced.

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