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• MLB largely responsible for players' steroid abuse, researcher says
• High frequency of EGFR mutations found in Asian population
• Clinical trial success influenced by biomarker - and receptor-targeted therapies in NSCLC
• Child Obesity: Using Attention modification program to decrease overeating in obese children
• Mobile compression device recommended to prevent DVT after joint surgery
• Mars rover heads uphill after solving 'doughnut' riddle
• NASA data find some hope for water in Aral Sea basin
• Superbright, fast X-rays image single layer of proteins
• Geographic variation of human gut microbes tied to obesity
• Citizenship goes digital: Online gaming effective in teaching civics
• Social norms strongly influence vaccination decisions, the spread of disease
• Gene for dissected leaves: Lost gene leads to simple leaves
• Survey: Americans struggle with science; respect scientists
• Screening wastewater biosolids for environmental contaminants: Antimicrobial products cause for concern
• 'Neighbor plants' determine insects' feeding choices
• Carbon nanotube fibers outperform copper in carrying electrical current
• Strategy that narrows academic achievement gap by 63 percent
• Early childhood education can pay big rewards to families, society
• Future industry: No chance for industrial pirates with highly secure networks
• Brain's 'sweet spot' for love found in neurological patient
• Grape seed promise in fight against bowel cancer
• Pregnancy study for overweight women leads to fewer high birth weight babies
• Arctic biodiversity under serious threat from climate change
• Passive smoking impairs children's responses to asthma treatment
• Potentially revolutionary material: Scientists produce a novel form of artificial graphene
• Revolutionary portable lab for rapid and low-cost diagnosis
• Impaired recovery from inflammation linked to Alzheimer's
• Cancer doctors have opportunities to cut costs without risk to patients, experts say
• Children living close to fast food outlets more likely to be overweight
• 'Sexy' underwear is not the only way to feel feminine on Valentine's Day
• What makes newborn immune system in lungs different, vulnerable?
• Stroke survivors often return to driving without being evaluated for ability
• Head, neck injuries may increase stroke risk among trauma patients younger than 50
• Scientists find cell fate switch that decides liver, or pancreas?
• Arctic marine mammals are ecosystem sentinels
• Cat parasite found in western Arctic Beluga deemed infectious
• Superconductivity in orbit: Scientists find new path to loss-free electricity
• Embryology: Scientists crack open 'black box' of development and see a 'rosette'
• Mixed genes: Interactive world map of human genetic history reveals likely genetic impacts of historical events
• Psychologist shows why talking to kids really matters
• Crazy ants dominate fire ants by neutralizing their venom
• Cosmic roadmap to galactic magnetic field revealed
• Graphene's love affair with water: Water filters allow precise and fast sieving of salts and organic molecules
• America's natural gas system is leaking methane and in need of a fix
• Cortical convolutions controlled in sections: Non-coding DNA sequence affects brain's characteristic folding, study shows
• Mechanism of crude oil heart toxicity on fish revealed from oil spill research
• Robotic construction crew needs no foreman
• Energy harvesting takes wing in merger of engineering and biology
• NASA moves longest-serving Mars spacecraft for new observations
• Air pollution increases risk for hypertension in pregnant women
• Two new weapons in the battle against bacteria
• How memory, schizophrenia are connected
• Light-induced degradation in amorphous silicon thin film solar cells
• Vitamin B12 accelerates worm development: New model for isolating the effects of nutrients on gene expression and physiology
• How gut bacteria communicates within our bodies, builds special relationship
• Is zinc the missing link for osteoarthritis therapies?
• New stem cell method may eliminate need for blood donations to maintain platelet supply
• Plants recycle, too: Biologists have now identified a new protein complex which is crucial for endocytosis in plants
• Protein switch dictates cellular fate: Stem cell or neuron
• Experiments on tiny gold prisms help to explain unusual electrodynamics of nanostructures

MLB largely responsible for players' steroid abuse, researcher says Posted: 14 Feb 2014 05:39 PM PST The widespread use of illegal steroids among Major League Baseball players has been fueled by an "economy of bodily management," the free agent market and exploding television revenues, a labor and disability historian argues in a newly published research paper.

High frequency of EGFR mutations found in Asian population Posted: 14 Feb 2014 05:39 PM PST Adenocarcinoma histology, female sex, never-smoking status, and Asian ethnicity have been considered the most important factors associated with EGFR mutations in non-small cell lung cancer and response to EGFR inhibitors. A recent study has found that, within the Asian population, the frequency of EGFR mutations associated with other demographic and clinical characteristics is higher than previously reported.

Clinical trial success influenced by biomarker - and receptor-targeted therapies in NSCLC Posted: 14 Feb 2014 05:39 PM PST Over the past decade, a great clinical focus has been directed at developing new and innovative therapies for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). An analysis of clinical trials evaluating these therapies demonstrates that the cumulative success rate for new agents for advanced NSCLC is lower than the industry-estimated rate. However, biomarker- and receptor-targeted therapies were found to substantially increase clinical trial success.

Child Obesity: Using Attention modification program to decrease overeating in obese children Posted: 14 Feb 2014 05:38 PM PST Attention modification programs, which train a person to ignore or disregard specific, problematic cues or triggers, have been used effectively to treat cases of anxiety and substance abuse. In a novel study published this week, a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry reports using a single session of attention modification to decrease overeating in obese children.

Mobile compression device recommended to prevent DVT after joint surgery Posted: 14 Feb 2014 12:20 PM PST Research could change how patients are treated to prevent blood clots after joint replacement surgery. A study published has determined that after lower extremity joint replacement surgery, a mobile compression device was just as effective as blood thinners in preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), but without negative side effects including bleeding complications.

Mars rover heads uphill after solving 'doughnut' riddle Posted: 14 Feb 2014 11:40 AM PST Researchers have determined the now-infamous Martian rock resembling a jelly doughnut, dubbed Pinnacle Island, is a piece of a larger rock broken and moved by the wheel of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity in early January.

NASA data find some hope for water in Aral Sea basin Posted: 14 Feb 2014 11:35 AM PST A new study using data from NASA satellite missions finds that, although the long-term water picture for the Aral Sea watershed in Central Asia remains bleak, short-term prospects are better than previously thought. Once the fourth largest inland sea in the world, the Aral Sea has lost 90 percent of its water volume over the last 50 years. Its watershed -- the enormous closed basin around the sea -- encompasses Uzbekistan and parts of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Superbright, fast X-rays image single layer of proteins Posted: 14 Feb 2014 10:09 AM PST In biology, a protein's shape is key to understanding how it causes disease or toxicity. Researchers who use X-rays to takes snapshots of proteins need a billion copies of the same protein stacked and packed into a neat crystal. Now, scientists using exceptionally bright and fast X-rays can take a picture that rivals conventional methods with a sheet of proteins just one protein molecule thick.

Geographic variation of human gut microbes tied to obesity Posted: 14 Feb 2014 10:09 AM PST Researchers know that obese people have a different balance of microbes in their guts: more Firmicutes, fewer Bacteroidetes. Now researchers have found that people living in northern latitudes have a greater proportion of the Firmicutes associated with obesity than do people living farther south, and a smaller proportion of Bacteroidetes. The implications are unclear, though microbes may evolve with people to better extract energy from food in colder climates.

Citizenship goes digital: Online gaming effective in teaching civics Posted: 14 Feb 2014 10:07 AM PST Can playing online video games help students learn civics education? According to researchers, the answer is yes. They studied the effectiveness of iCivics, a free online website founded by retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor that teaches civics concepts using 19 educational games.

Social norms strongly influence vaccination decisions, the spread of disease Posted: 14 Feb 2014 08:12 AM PST Our response to societal pressures about vaccination has a direct effect on the spread of pediatric infectious diseases in areas where inoculation is not mandatory, says research. By incorporating social norms into predictive modelling, a research team found that they can foresee the observed patterns of population behavior and disease spread during vaccine scares-times when anti-vaccine sentiment is strong.

Gene for dissected leaves: Lost gene leads to simple leaves Posted: 14 Feb 2014 08:11 AM PST Spinach looks nothing like parsley, and basil bears no resemblance to thyme. Each plant has a typical leaf shape that can differ even within the same family. The information about what shape leaves will be is stored in the DNA. According to researchers in Germany, the hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) has a particular gene to thank for its dissected leaves. This homeobox gene inhibits cell proliferation and growth between leaflets, allowing them to separate from each other. The thale cress Arabidopsis thaliana does not have this gene. Therefore, its leaves are not dissected, but simple and entire.

Survey: Americans struggle with science; respect scientists Posted: 14 Feb 2014 08:11 AM PST While most Americans could be a bit more knowledgeable in the ways of science, a majority are interested in hearing about the latest scientific breakthroughs and think highly of scientists. This is according to a survey of more than 2,200 people.

Screening wastewater biosolids for environmental contaminants: Antimicrobial products cause for concern Posted: 14 Feb 2014 07:15 AM PST Researchers describe a cost-effective method for screening chemicals found in wastewater biosolids used in fertilizer for potential environmental impact. They have used the test to show that triclosan, an antimicrobial agent currently under fire from environmentalists, has troubling concentrations in the environment, and they raise suspicions about three other commonly used antimicrobial products.

'Neighbor plants' determine insects' feeding choices Posted: 14 Feb 2014 07:15 AM PST Insects are choosier than you might think: whether or not they end up feeding on a particular plant depends on much more than just the species to which that plant belongs. The quality of the individual plant is an important factor as well. As is the variety of other plants growing around it. But what, ultimately, makes an insect choose one plant over another?

Carbon nanotube fibers outperform copper in carrying electrical current Posted: 14 Feb 2014 07:15 AM PST Carbon nanotube-based fibers have greater capacity to carry electrical current than copper cables of the same mass, scientists show.

Strategy that narrows academic achievement gap by 63 percent Posted: 14 Feb 2014 07:15 AM PST Americans don't like to discuss social class but new research finds it's imperative that colleges and universities do. A one-hour intervention by researchers closed the persistent academic achievement gap between students who are the first in their families to attend college and students with parents with a college degree. Key to the intervention's success is deliberate discussion of how one's social class background shapes one's college experience.

Early childhood education can pay big rewards to families, society Posted: 14 Feb 2014 07:08 AM PST High quality early childhood for disadvantaged children can simultaneously reduce inequality and boost productivity in America, contends a professor of economics, and one of the nation's leading experts on early childhood education.

Future industry: No chance for industrial pirates with highly secure networks Posted: 14 Feb 2014 06:21 AM PST In the future, production facilities will be able to communicate and interact with one another, and machinery will often be remote-serviced. But no company boss wants to run the risk of opening the door to industrial espionage and sabotage with unsecure networks. A new development offers a particularly high level of security.

Brain's 'sweet spot' for love found in neurological patient Posted: 14 Feb 2014 06:20 AM PST A region deep inside the brain controls how quickly people make decisions about love, according to new research. The finding, made in an examination of a 48-year-old man who suffered a stroke, provides the first causal clinical evidence that an area of the brain called the anterior insula "plays an instrumental role in love," said neuroscientist Stephanie Cacioppo, lead author of the study.

Grape seed promise in fight against bowel cancer Posted: 14 Feb 2014 06:20 AM PST Research has shown for the first time that grape seed can aid the effectiveness of chemotherapy in killing colon cancer cells as well as reducing the chemotherapy's side effects.

Pregnancy study for overweight women leads to fewer high birth weight babies Posted: 14 Feb 2014 06:20 AM PST The world's biggest study offering healthy eating and exercise advice to pregnant women who are overweight or obese has shown a significant reduction in the number of babies born over 4kg (8.8 pounds) in weight.

Arctic biodiversity under serious threat from climate change Posted: 14 Feb 2014 04:55 AM PST Climate change caused by human activities is by far the worst threat to biodiversity in the Arctic. Some of these changes are already visible. Unique and irreplaceable Arctic wildlife and landscapes are crucially at risk due to global warming caused by human activities according to a new report prepared by 253 scientists from 15 countries.

Passive smoking impairs children's responses to asthma treatment Posted: 14 Feb 2014 04:54 AM PST Children exposed to cigarette smoke at home have lower levels of an enzyme that helps them respond to asthma treatment, a study has found.

Potentially revolutionary material: Scientists produce a novel form of artificial graphene Posted: 14 Feb 2014 04:54 AM PST A new breed of ultra thin super-material has the potential to cause a technological revolution. "Artificial graphene" should lead to faster, smaller and lighter electronic and optical devices of all kinds, including higher performance photovoltaic cells, lasers or LED lighting.

Revolutionary portable lab for rapid and low-cost diagnosis Posted: 14 Feb 2014 04:54 AM PST Do you remember James Bond film Casino Royale? After being poisoned, the agent uses a portable diagnostic kit to identify the toxic substance and alert his HQ in London. Such type of technology is not fiction anymore. Researchers have developed a ground-breaking diagnostic system based on smart cards and skin patches combined with a portable reader. Test results can directly be sent to a remote computer, a tablet or a smartphone through a wireless connection. This small lab can already detect cocaine consumption, monitor colon cancer, identify bacteria in food and analyze environmental contamination. Many other useful applications can be foreseen.

Impaired recovery from inflammation linked to Alzheimer's Posted: 14 Feb 2014 04:54 AM PST New research shows that the final stage of the normal inflammatory process may be disrupted in patients with Alzheimer's disease. A study shows that levels in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of the molecules necessary for tissue recovery through the clearance of harmful inflammatory substances are lower than normal in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The study also showed association between the lower levels of these molecules with impaired memory function.

Cancer doctors have opportunities to cut costs without risk to patients, experts say Posted: 14 Feb 2014 04:53 AM PST In a review article published, experts identify three major sources of high cancer costs and argue that cancer doctors can likely reduce them without harm to patients. The cost-cutting proposals call for changes in routine clinical practice involved in end-of-life care, medical imaging and drug pricing.

Children living close to fast food outlets more likely to be overweight Posted: 13 Feb 2014 07:04 PM PST Research shows that children living close to fast food outlets are more likely to be overweight. Researchers looked at weight data from more than a million children and compared it with the availability of unhealthy food from outlets including fish and chip shops, burger bars, pizza places, and sweet shops. It is hoped that the findings will help shape planning policy to help tackle childhood obesity.

'Sexy' underwear is not the only way to feel feminine on Valentine's Day Posted: 13 Feb 2014 07:03 PM PST TV makeover shows and glossy magazines can leave women feeling guilty for not wearing "sexy" lingerie -- especially on Valentine's Day.

What makes newborn immune system in lungs different, vulnerable? Posted: 13 Feb 2014 03:48 PM PST Newborns are more susceptible to infections, presumably because of their immature and inexperienced immune systems. The most common dangerous condition in newborns and infants are lower respiratory tract infections caused by viruses, especially respiratory syncytial virus. A study published shows how the immune system in the lungs during early life differs from the one in older children and adults.

Stroke survivors often return to driving without being evaluated for ability Posted: 13 Feb 2014 03:48 PM PST Stroke survivors often resume driving without being formally evaluated for ability -- though stroke can cause deficits that can impair driving, according to researchers.

Head, neck injuries may increase stroke risk among trauma patients younger than 50 Posted: 13 Feb 2014 03:48 PM PST Suffering an injury to the head or neck increases ischemic stroke risk three-fold among trauma patients younger than 50, according to research.

Scientists find cell fate switch that decides liver, or pancreas? Posted: 13 Feb 2014 12:35 PM PST Stem cell scientists have a new theory for how stem cells decide whether to become liver or pancreatic cells during development. A cell's fate, the researchers found, is determined by the nearby presence of prostaglandin E2, a messenger molecule best known for its role in inflammation and pain. The discovery could potentially make liver and pancreas cells easier to generate both in the lab and for future cell therapies.

Arctic marine mammals are ecosystem sentinels Posted: 13 Feb 2014 12:35 PM PST As the Arctic continues to see dramatic declines in seasonal sea ice, warming temperatures and increased storminess, the responses of marine mammals can provide clues to how the ecosystem is responding to these physical drivers.

Cat parasite found in western Arctic Beluga deemed infectious Posted: 13 Feb 2014 12:35 PM PST Scientists have found for the first time an infectious form of the cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii in western Arctic Beluga, prompting a health advisory to the Inuit people who eat whale meat.

Superconductivity in orbit: Scientists find new path to loss-free electricity Posted: 13 Feb 2014 11:23 AM PST Researchers have combined atoms with multiple orbitals and precisely pinned down their electron distributions. Using advanced electron diffraction techniques, the scientists discovered that orbital fluctuations in iron-based compounds induce strongly coupled polarizations that can enhance electron pairing -- the essential mechanism behind superconductivity.

Embryology: Scientists crack open 'black box' of development and see a 'rosette' Posted: 13 Feb 2014 11:23 AM PST We know much about how embryos develop, but one key stage -- implantation -- has remained a mystery. Now, scientists have discovered a way to study and film this 'black box' of development. This new method revealed that on its way from ball to cup, the blastocyst becomes a 'rosette' of wedge-shaped cells, a structure never before seen by scientists.

Mixed genes: Interactive world map of human genetic history reveals likely genetic impacts of historical events Posted: 13 Feb 2014 11:23 AM PST When individuals from different groups interbreed, their offspring's DNA becomes a mixture of the DNA from each admixing group. Pieces of this DNA are then passed along through subsequent generations, carrying on all the way to the present day. Researchers have now produced a global map detailing the genetic histories of 95 different populations across the world, spanning the last four millennia.

Psychologist shows why talking to kids really matters Posted: 13 Feb 2014 11:22 AM PST Exposure to child-directed speech sharpens infants' language processing skills and can predict future success. New work indicates early intervention can improve language skills in kids lagging behind.

Crazy ants dominate fire ants by neutralizing their venom Posted: 13 Feb 2014 11:22 AM PST Invasive "crazy ants" are rapidly displacing fire ants in areas across the southeastern US by secreting a compound that neutralizes fire ant venom, according to a new study. It's the first known example of an insect with the ability to detoxify another insect's venom.

Cosmic roadmap to galactic magnetic field revealed Posted: 13 Feb 2014 11:22 AM PST Scientists report that recent, independent measurements have validated one of the IBEX mission's signature findings -- a mysterious "ribbon" of energy and particles at the edge of our solar system that appears to be a directional "roadmap in the sky" of the local interstellar magnetic field.

Graphene's love affair with water: Water filters allow precise and fast sieving of salts and organic molecules Posted: 13 Feb 2014 11:22 AM PST Graphene has proven itself as a wonder material with a vast range of unique properties. Among the least-known marvels of graphene is its strange love affair with water. Graphene is hydrophobic -- it repels water -- but narrow capillaries made from graphene vigorously suck in water allowing its rapid permeation, if the water layer is only one atom thick -- that is, as thin as graphene itself. This bizarre property has attracted intense academic and industrial interest with intent to develop new water filtration and desalination technologies.

America's natural gas system is leaking methane and in need of a fix Posted: 13 Feb 2014 11:22 AM PST The US natural gas system is letting more methane, a potent greenhouse gas, escape into the air than previously thought, a new study confirms.

Cortical convolutions controlled in sections: Non-coding DNA sequence affects brain's characteristic folding, study shows Posted: 13 Feb 2014 11:22 AM PST Researchers have tied a particular gene to the development of cortical convolutions -- the prominent but enigmatic folds covering the surface of the human brain. Their discovery should shed some light on these characteristic contours, which have been the subject of wild speculation for ages, and perhaps also provide a better understanding of how such brain ridges form, how they evolved from our pre-human ancestors and, ultimately, how they influence brain function.

Mechanism of crude oil heart toxicity on fish revealed from oil spill research Posted: 13 Feb 2014 11:22 AM PST While studying the impact of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill on tuna, a research team discovered that crude oil interrupts a molecular pathway that allows fish heart cells to beat effectively. The components of the pathway are present in the hearts of most animals, including humans.

Robotic construction crew needs no foreman Posted: 13 Feb 2014 11:21 AM PST On the plains of Namibia, millions of tiny termites are building a mound of soil—an 8-foot-tall "lung" for their underground nest. During a year of construction, many termites will live and die, wind and rain will erode the structure, and yet the colony's life-sustaining project will continue. Inspired by the termites' resilience and collective intelligence, a team of computer scientists and engineers has created an autonomous robotic construction crew. The system needs no supervisor, no eye in the sky, and no communication: just simple robots—any number of robots—that cooperate by modifying their environment.

Energy harvesting takes wing in merger of engineering and biology Posted: 13 Feb 2014 11:21 AM PST A bird flapping its wings or a fish's deep dive may be pictures of nature in action, but in their elegant simplicity scientists see the complex challenges of merging technology with a biological system. The motion of animals could power small devices that allow biologists to collect information about behavior that eludes them under the limitations of current technology.

NASA moves longest-serving Mars spacecraft for new observations Posted: 13 Feb 2014 09:55 AM PST NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft has tweaked its orbit to help scientists make the first systematic observations of how morning fogs, clouds and surface frost develop in different seasons on the Red Planet.

Air pollution increases risk for hypertension in pregnant women Posted: 13 Feb 2014 09:24 AM PST Breathing the air outside their homes may be just as toxic to pregnant women -- if not more so -- as breathing in cigarette smoke, increasing a mom-to-be's risk of developing deadly complications such as preeclampsia, according to findings from a new study.

Two new weapons in the battle against bacteria Posted: 13 Feb 2014 09:24 AM PST Proteases are vital proteins that serve for order within cells. They break apart other proteins, ensuring that these are properly synthesized and decomposed. Proteases are also responsible for the pathogenic effects of many kinds of bacteria. Now chemists have discovered two hitherto unknown mechanisms of action that can be used to permanently disarm an important bacterial protease.

How memory, schizophrenia are connected Posted: 13 Feb 2014 09:24 AM PST Many psychiatric disorders are accompanied by memory deficits. Scientists have now identified a network of genes that controls fundamental properties of neurons and is important for human brain activity, memory and the development of schizophrenia.

Light-induced degradation in amorphous silicon thin film solar cells Posted: 13 Feb 2014 09:24 AM PST Researchers have taken a leap forward towards a deeper understanding of an undesired effect in thin film solar cells based on amorphous silicon -- one that has puzzled the scientific community for the last 40 years. The researchers were able to demonstrate that tiny voids within the silicon network are partly responsible for reducing solar cell efficiency by some 10 to 15 percent as soon as you start using them.

Vitamin B12 accelerates worm development: New model for isolating the effects of nutrients on gene expression and physiology Posted: 13 Feb 2014 09:24 AM PST Every day our cells take in nutrients from food and convert them into the building blocks that make life possible. However, it has been challenging to pinpoint exactly how a single nutrient or vitamin changes gene expression and physiology. Scientists have now developed a novel interspecies model system that allows these questions to be answered.

How gut bacteria communicates within our bodies, builds special relationship Posted: 13 Feb 2014 09:23 AM PST Communication is vital to any successful relationship. Researchers have discovered how the beneficial bacteria in our guts communicate with our own cells. This is a key step in understanding how our bodies maintain a close relationship with the population of gut bacteria that plays crucial roles in maintaining our health, fighting infection and digesting our food.

Is zinc the missing link for osteoarthritis therapies? Posted: 13 Feb 2014 09:23 AM PST A study reveals that osteoarthritis-related tissue damage is caused by a molecular pathway that is involved in regulating and responding to zinc levels inside of cartilage cells. A protein called ZIP8 transports zinc inside these cells, setting off a cascade of molecular events that result in the destruction of cartilage tissue in mice. The findings could lead to a new generation of therapies for osteoarthritis.

New stem cell method may eliminate need for blood donations to maintain platelet supply Posted: 13 Feb 2014 09:23 AM PST Platelets, whose primary function is to prevent bleeding, are vital for treating various forms of trauma and blood diseases. However, they can only be obtained through blood donations at present. Researchers recently found a way to create platelets without the need for donated blood, an advance that could possibly erase supply shortages and ensure platelet treatments for all who need them.

Plants recycle, too: Biologists have now identified a new protein complex which is crucial for endocytosis in plants Posted: 13 Feb 2014 09:22 AM PST Cells communicate through proteins embedded in their cell membranes. These proteins have diverse functions and can be compared with antennas, switches and gates. For the well-being of the cell, it has to adjust the composition of its membrane proteins and lipids constantly. New proteins are incorporated, while old proteins get recycled or eliminated. The process by which membrane material gets internalized is called endocytosis. Biologists have now identified a new protein complex which is crucial for endocytosis in plants.

Protein switch dictates cellular fate: Stem cell or neuron Posted: 13 Feb 2014 09:16 AM PST Researchers have discovered that a well-known protein has a new function: It acts in a biological circuit to determine whether an immature neural cell remains in a stem-like state or proceeds to become a functional neuron.

Experiments on tiny gold prisms help to explain unusual electrodynamics of nanostructures Posted: 13 Feb 2014 09:16 AM PST Nanoplasmonics -- the study of light manipulation on the nanometer scale -- has contributed to the production of novel devices for chemical and biological sensing, signal processing and solar energy. However, components at such small scales experience strange effects that classical electrodynamics cannot explain. A particular challenge for theorists lies in isolating so-called 'nonlocal' effects, whereby the optical properties of a particle are not constant but depend on nearby electromagnetic fields.

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