Ultra-thin solar cells can easily bend around a pencil

New flexible photovoltaics could power wearable electronics.

Mental training for soccer tactics

Researchers have developed a new mental training technique for athletes.

A deadly delivery for triple-negative breast cancer tumors

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles may help destroy difficult-to-treat triple-negative breast cancer tumors.

Preparing for a new relationship: Coral and algae interactions explored

Changes in gene expression were found when coral and algae begin to interact.

X-ray-free electron laser reveals radiosensitizing effects at molecular level

Researchers shed light on the molecular mechanisms behind radiation-based cancer therapies, through new study.

Threading the way to touch-sensitive robots

Smart threads can be woven into pressure-sensitive electronic skin for robots or medical prosthetics.

Ferroelectric materials react unexpectedly to strain

Under too much strain, layered perovskite ferroelectrics turn off their polarization, researchers have found.

Infidelity perceptions differ between men and women

New research has uncovered the different ways in which men and women perceive infidelity.

Researcher helps break ground on forecasting earthquakes

Researchers are breaking ground on the complexity of earthquakes and the possibility to forecast them.

Conversion efficiency of 18.2% achieved using perovskite solar cells

A research group in Japan achieved energy conversion efficiency exceeding 18% using standard size perovskite solar cells.

Scientists model universe using Einstein’s full theory

Cosmologists have begun modelling the universe for the first time using Einstein's full general theory of relativity.

Better way to 'herd' electrons in solar fuel devices

Researchers have discovered a new way to optimize electron transfer in semi-conductors used in solar fuel solutions.

Chemists find new way to recycle plastic waste into fuel

A new way of recycling millions of tons of plastic garbage into liquid fuel has been devised.

New 'GreenWeb' tools aim to create an energy-efficient web

Researchers have developed a new, open-source computer programming framework that could make the web significantly more energy efficient,

Predictive model to analyse the reproductive status of wolf packs

Researchers evaluate the usefulness of bioacoustic tools as a means of establishing the reproductive status of wolf populations.

Failed star creates its own spotlight in the universe

Astronomers have discovered an 'ultracool' brown dwarf known as 2MASS 0335+23 that can generate flares stronger than the sun's.

Study addresses safety concerns for older adults with diagnosed, undiagnosed dementia

Researchers have examined how often older adults who have diagnosed and undiagnosed dementia engage in potentially unsafe activities.

New devices causing 'paradigm shift' in stroke care

New devices called stent retrievers, which effectively reverse strokes, are revolutionizing the treatment of certain stroke patients, report investigators.

Novel controller allows video gamer who lacks hands to compete with his feet

Engineering graduate students, one of whom lost his hands to meningitis, design and build a foot-activated video game controller.

Graphene-based thermal modulators

Squeezing graphene is a way to control its heat conduction, paving the way to harvesting waste heat for power.

Super-resolution microscopy reveals unprecedented detail of immune cells' surface

Scientists show how T-cell receptors reposition during an immune response, revealing more on how the immune system is regulated.

With spiraling light, x-ray laser offers new glimpses of molecules

A new device allows researchers to explore the properties and dynamics of molecules with circularly polarized, or spiraling, light.

Scientists glimpse why life can't happen without water

Scientists are getting closer to directly observing how and why water is essential to life as we know it.

Improving math in sixth graders

Sixth grade students with lower mathematical ability perform better on complex arithmetic problems if they write down their calculations.

Storage technologies for renewable energy can pay off

Storage systems can make economic sense for renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, according to new research.

The world's oldest farmers were insects

An international team of researchers has discovered the oldest fossil evidence of agriculture, not by humans, but by insects.

Improving key diagnostic measures for gastrointestinal disorders

Diagnostic criteria questionnaires for functional GI disorders, which affect millions of people worldwide, have now been amended by researchers.

Longevity, human health may be linked to a muscle cell enzyme

Exercise and fasting do not change the location of a key enzyme involved in energy production, a study has found.

Dividing the spoils of cooperation

When choosing unrelated male partners for cooperative ventures, men value productivity as well as generosity and trustworthiness, new research indicates.

Rare, blind catfish never before found in US discovered in national park cave in Texas

An extremely rare eyeless catfish species previously known to exist only in Mexico has been discovered in Texas, report investigators.

Electropermanent magnet actuation for droplet ferromicrofluidics

Miniature electropermanent magnets are used for on-demand water droplet actuation and sorting under continuous flow in a ferrofluid-based microfluidic system.

Research team synthesizes new cancer fighter

Scientists have synthesized a novel anti-cancer agent, Thailanstatin A, which was originally isolated from a bacterial species collected in Thailand.

Emotionally positive situations boost memory for similar future events

Combining a positive emotional component with a given stimulus promotes memory for future stimuli of the same type, report scientists.

Piping hot drinks may lead to cancer of the esophagus

Drinking piping hot coffee, tea and the caffeine-infused beverage yerba mate probably causes cancer, the World Health Organization has announced.

'Holy grail' of breast cancer prevention in high-risk women may be in sight

An existing medication could have promise in preventing breast cancer in women carrying a faulty BRCA1 gene, researchers have discovered.

Wine used in ritual ceremonies 5000 years ago in Georgia, the cradle of viticulture

A Georgian-Italian archaeological expedition has discovered vine pollen in a zoomorphic vessel used in ritual ceremonies by the Kura-Araxes population.

Ocean forecast offers seasonal outlook for Pacific Northwest waters

A new study evaluates the skill of a seasonal forecast for predicting future conditions in the Pacific Northwest marine environment.

Novel combination therapy shows strong response in phase 1 trial

A phase 1 clinical trial testing a novel combination therapy slowed the growth of cancer in the majority of trial participants.

Beach replenishment helps protect against storm erosion during El Niño

A comparison of recent and previous nourishments of San Diego beaches suggests that a larger sand grain size improved nourishment performance.

Green fluorescent protein a potential scaffold for protein assembly

A protein-scaffolding tool has been developed that paves the way for the assembly of diverse proteins with defined structures and functions.

Why tungsten-doped thin films degrade so rapidly in air

A new understanding of why tungsten-doped thin films degrade so rapidly in air may lead to better designs for semiconductor technologies.

Industry 4.0 allows manufacturers to see inside precision glass molding machine

When manufacturing optical lenses, every detail counts. In order to stabilize and optimize the manufacturing process, researchers are using digitalized processes.

Get a clue: Biochemist studies fruit fly to understand Parkinson's disease, muscle wasting

By studying the fruit fly, researchers have found a connection between a gene called clueless and genes that cause Parkinson's disease.

Drones could be cheaper alternative to delivering vaccines in developing world

Using unmanned drones to deliver vaccines in low- and middle-income countries may save money and improve vaccination rates, new research suggests.

Keep it simple: Low-cost solar power

A new architecture takes very few processing steps to produce an affordable solar cell with efficiencies comparable to conventional silicon solar cells.

Tiny multi-function antenna for laptops

A tech start-up has invented a world-first multi-function antenna for laptops that fits into the extremely limited space of the hinge cavity.

Scientists learn more about how star-shaped brain cells help us learn

A molecule that enables strong communication between our brain and muscles appears to also aid essential communication between our neurons, scientists report.

Nanotech extends shelf life of fresh fruit

An international research team is developing nanotechnology-based applications of hexanal, a natural plant extract that extends the storage life of harvested fruit.

New system that uses sound to alleviate water shortage

New research shows how a special tool called a noise logger can detect leaks accurately and efficiently, before major roadwork is required.

Dynamics of a mixture or suspension: Dewatering natural fiber suspensions via compression

A group of researchers mimicked the compression of a traditional French coffee-making press to characterize the dewatering properties of natural fiber suspensions.

Broken calorie sensing pathway: How overeating may lead to more eating

Overeating reduces levels of a hormone that signals the feeling of fullness in the brain, potentially promoting more eating, new research indicates.

Antibiotics increase availability of nutrients in the gut, enabling growth of pathogens

A newly discovered mechanism helps explain how antibiotics change the gut microbiota, increasing nutrients that benefit the growth of pathogens, like Salmonella.

Disney princesses: Not brave enough, say researchers

Gendered behavior can become problematic if girls avoid important learning experiences. A new article looks at how Disney Princesses play a role.

Middle-aged more likely to be diagnosed with advanced lung cancer

Younger patients aged 50 to 64 are more likely to be diagnosed with late stage lung cancer than older patients according to new data.

Study asks, how much impact do genes have on behavior?

How much impact do genes have on behavioral changes? One researcher wants to better understand the genetic underpinnings of ecologically relevant behaviors.

Smoking may have negative effects on sperm quality

A recent study found that that sperm of men who smoke has a greater extent of DNA damage than that of non-smokers.

Researchers link childhood hunger, violence later in life

Children who often go hungry have a greater risk of developing impulse control problems and engaging in violence, according to new research.

Making computers reason and learn by analogy

Using the power of analogy, a new structure-mapping engine gives computers the ability to reason like humans and even solve moral dilemmas.

Fighting experience makes beetles better mothers, study shows

Female beetles that are seasoned fighters put more effort into raising their offspring than mothers with no conflict experience, a study suggests.

‘Get children playing outdoors’ to improve academic success and reduce obesity

Campaigns to promote physical activity and reduce obesity among children should focus more on active outdoor play, according to a new study.

Researchers to study how to reduce carbon dioxide in ranch soil

Researchers hope to reduce possible pollutants emanating from soils in Florida cattle ranches by using a $710,000 federal grant to study soil microbes.

3-D-printed kidney helps doctors save woman's organ during complicated tumor removal

Doctors and scientists in one case printed and used a 3-D kidney to help save a patient's organ during a complicated tumor-removal procedural.

Relationship quality tied to good health for young adults

For young people entering adulthood, high-quality relationships are associated with better physical and mental health, according to the results of a new study.

Fetal BPA exposure in mice linked to estrogen-related diseases after adolescence

The genome is permanently altered in the uterus of mice that had been exposed to BPA during their fetal development, new research indicates.

Laser manipulates electronic properties

A new semiconducting material that is only three atomic-layers thick has emerged with more exotic, malleable electronic properties than those of traditional semiconductors.

Simulations describe HIV's 'diabolical delivery device'

An innovative computer model of HIV has been developed by scientists that gives real insight into how a virus 'matures' and becomes ineffective.

Scientific gains may make electronic nose the next everyday device

Researchers are working to develop an affordable electronic nose that can be used in breath analysis for a wide range of health diagnosis.

Droughts across Europe affect British trees most

Environmental scientists have found beech forests across western Europe are increasingly at risk from drought -- with areas of southern England worst affected.

Intervention helps newborns get screened for hearing loss, study finds

Targeted intervention helps improve follow-up rates by more than 70 percent for newborns who fail initial hearing screenings at birth hospitals, scientists have found.

At any skill level, making art reduces stress hormones

No matter a person's skill level, taking time to make art is likely to reduce their stress hormone levels, a new study found.

Small planets hiding in giant cloaks

Hazes and clouds high up in the atmospheres of exoplanets may make them appear bigger than they really are, according to new research.

Solar cells for greener and safer energies

Researchers report on low-temperature, solution-processed, environmentally friendly inorganic solar cells made with Earth-abundant materials capable of operating with a power conversion of 6.3 percent.

As Olympics near, study finds low levels of physical activity in Brazil

Physical activity provides Brazilians with significant cardio-metabolic health benefits, but reports that fewer than three in 10 participants are active, a large study confirms.

Blood pressure medications reduce stroke, heart attack in peritoneal dialysis patients

Two classes of blood pressure medications are associated with a 16 percent lower risk of cardiovascular events in patients who are undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Drying Arctic soils could accelerate greenhouse gas emissions

Soil moisture levels will determine how much carbon is released to the atmosphere as rising temperatures thaw Arctic lands, suggests new scientific research.

El Nino drives fastest annual increase on record of carbon dioxide

The rising concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide has passed a symbolic threshold early due to the fastest annual increase on record, report scientists.

Lack of transportation hampers hungry children from getting free summer meals, study finds

Lack of transportation is a hurdle for many Texas families whose children could benefit from free meals, according to the Texas Hunger Initiative.

How chameleons capture their prey

The mucus secreted at the tip of a chameleon's tongue has a viscosity 400 times larger than the one of human saliva, report investigators.

Hibernation study yields insights about organ protection

Novel adaptations discovered in hibernating animals may reveal ways to mitigate injuries associated with strokes, heart attacks and organ transplants, according to researchers.

Exhausting our green shipping options

Scientists have developed a revolutionary emissions abatement system that removes pollutants from exhaust gas to help the international shipping industry meet ambitious emissions targets.

Common chemical highly toxic to blood cell precursors

Scientists have provided evidence that a widely used chemical is more toxic to certain blood cell precursors in the bone marrow than to others.

Dull and dirty: Your workplace could affect brain function

Both a lack of stimulation in the workplace and a dirty working environment can have a long-term cognitive effect on employees, new research indicates.

New research casts doubt over tale of famous Brontë dress

Research has called into question a centuries-old story behind a dress that once belonged to one of England's most beloved novelists -- Charlotte Brontë.

New X-ray method allows scientists to probe molecular explosions

Researchers have used the high-intensity, quick-burst X-rays to look at how the atoms in a molecule change when the molecule is bombarded with X-rays.

Alcohol dependent individuals show greater risk of suicide in evening hours

A new study found that there is a circadian pattern of peak and nadir in the incidence of suicides committed in alcohol dependent individuals.

Chip makes parallel programs run faster with less code

Researchers present a new chip design they call Swarm, which should make parallel programs not only much more efficient but easier to write, too.

Rates of nonmedical prescription opioid use, opioid use disorder double in 10 years

Nonmedical use of prescription opioids more than doubled among adults in the United States from 2001-2002 to 2012-2013, based on a new American study.

Core proteins exert control over DNA function

Histone proteins at the core of nucleosomes and their tails exert control over the exposure of genes for binding, as demonstrated in simulations researchers.

Low maternal thyroid hormone during pregnancy increases risk for schizophrenia in offspring

A new study reveals a new link between low levels of the thyroid hormone thyroxine during pregnancy and risk of schizophrenia in the offspring.

Genetic clue to how patients respond to treatment for Parkinson's Disease

Researchers have identified a gene variant which explains why some patients with Parkinson’s Disease respond well to drug treatment and other do not.

How Make-Up Makes Men Admire but Other Women Jealous

Men think women with make-up on are more 'prestigious', while women think women who wear make-up are more 'dominant,' a psychology study has found.

In what is believed to be U.S. first, physician uses telehealth to replace comprehensive face-to-face visit for home dialysis patient

A telehealth program is being piloted, which could open the door for patients in rural communities to receive more subspecialized care without traveling long distances.

Power seekers do not see discrimination

People who are interested in gaining power for themselves are less aware than others of discrimination and injustice in the workplace, suggests a new study.

Canada spends over $400 million on medicine that harms seniors

Canada spends more than $400 million annually on drugs prescribed to seniors even though the medicines should be avoided for older patients, according to new research.

Research reveals pain, pleasure of sad music

Sad music can provide enjoyment, comfort or pain to different people, according to new research looking at the effects of melancholy songs on the emotions.

Weird, water-oozing material could help quench thirst

Nanorods have an unusual property -- spontaneously emitting water. After further development, the nanorods could be used for water harvesting and purification, or sweat-gathering fabric.

In MS, can better sleep improve cognition?

People with multiple sclerosis often have trouble with memory, attention and mental processing. New research shows some of these issues could stem from sleep disorders.

Young bowhead whales may cease growing lengthwise to grow head and baleen plates

Young bowhead whales may cease growing lengthwise and undergo severe bone loss to help grow their enormous head and baleen plates, according to a study.

Mandatory treatment not effective at reducing drug use, violates human rights, researchers say

Clinician researchers assessed current global evidence and found that mandatory treatment for people with substance use disorders is not effective in reducing their drug use.

Existing diabetes drug shows effectiveness against chronic liver disease

Researchers have found that an existing diabetes drug can be used to halt progression of another disease that is a leading cause of liver transplants.

Do sharks survive after the hook?

Fitbit-like sensors are the best tools for monitoring whether sharks survive catch-and-release fishing -- essential data for fisheries management -- according to a new study.

What makes individuals nasty or nice? Mathematical model explains

A scientist has helped develop an innovative mathematical model for exploring why some individuals evolve to be genetically programmed to be nice, while others stay nasty.

This message will self-destruct

In movies and television shows, audio tapes or other devices self-destruct after delivering the details of impossible missions. Scientists have taken it to a new level.

Computer models show park microclimates improve city life

Computer modelling based on microclimate data from a Malaysian public park has shown how adding trees and grass can improve living conditions in dense city cores.

Scientists uncover route for finding out what makes individuals nice or nasty

A scientist has helped develop an innovative mathematical model for exploring why some individuals evolve to be genetically programmed to be nice, while others stay nasty.

Animal hormone is involved in plant stress memory

Regulating melatonin production in plants via drought priming could be a promising approach to enhancing abiotic stress tolerance of crops in future climate scenarios, report investigators.

New approach to building efficient thermoelectric nanomaterials

A team of researchers has found a new path to large improvements in the efficiency of materials for solid-state heating and cooling and waste energy recapture.

Finding a needle in a crystalline haystack

With a new technique, scientists can detect a few large grains in a sea of small grains and study the fatigue-induced phenomena of large grain growth.

Atomic sculpting with a microscope

A new tool now rests in the 3D printing toolbox. The result is designer materials with desirable structures, such as microchips, or materials with unique properties.

7-day doctors cut weekend emergency hospital visits by 18 percent, study finds

The UK government's pilot of seven-day opening of doctor surgeries has significantly reduced weekend emergency hospital visits, hospital admissions and ambulance call-outs, new research has found.

Diverting redirection spam

Web browsers might soon use fuzzy logic to spot redirection spam and save users from being scammed, phished or opening malicious sites unwittingly, according to researchers.

Depressed, Out of Work? Study Suggests Skills to Help Land a Job

Unemployed people were more likely to land a job if they used skills commonly taught as part of cognitive therapy for depression, a new study found.

Scientists discover protective strategy against pesticide-linked Parkinson's disease

A new study sheds light on the toxicity of the pesticides related to Parkinson's while also suggesting a strategy that may help protect against the disease.

Simple Numbers Game Seems to Make Kids Better at Math

Although math skills are considered notoriously hard to improve, researchers boosted kindergarteners’ arithmetic performance simply by exercising their intuitive number sense with a quick computer game.

Crowdsourcing platform makes public gene expression data more accessible

Scientists have developed a free online platform that uses a crowdsourcing approach to make public gene expression data more accessible to biomedical researchers without computational expertise.

Children less likely to trust ugly people

Is beauty only skin deep? Children don't seem to think so, like adults and babies, children think the uglier you are, the less trustworthy you are.

Businesses can save 30% on electrical bills by adjusting production schedules

Industrial manufacturing businesses can save over 30 percent on electrical bills, and cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 5 percent, by adjusting production schedules, according to new research.

Proper maternal folate level may reduce child obesity risk

Proper maternal folate levels during pregnancy may protect children from a future risk of obesity, especially those born to obese mothers, according to a new study.

Success in second language learning linked to genetic and brain measures

A new study shows that the final grades that college students received in a second-language class were predicted by a combination of genetic and brain factors.

Assisted dying for psychiatric disorders: Serious public health impact

Offering medical assistance in dying to people in Canada on the basis of psychiatric illnesses could put vulnerable people at risk, argues a new Canadian commentary.

Sierra Nevada snowpack not likely to recover from drought until 2019

Even with this winter's strong El Niño, the Sierra Nevada snowpack will likely take until 2019 to return to pre-drought levels, according to a new analysis.

Should first-year college students assessed as needing remedial math take college-level quantitative courses instead?

Policies placing first-year college students assessed as needing remedial math directly into college-level quantitative courses, with additional support, can increase student success, according to a first-of-its-kind study.

PI3K protein: Potential new therapeutic target in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Researchers have demonstrated that selective inactivation of the p110&alpha, PI3K isoform is sufficient to block tumor progression and metastasis in a mice model of PanNETs

Method for detecting quantum entanglement refined

In the future when quantum computers become available, this method can potentially serve as a tool in certifying whether the system has enough entanglement between the qubits.

New technique improves accuracy of computer vision technologies

Researchers have developed a new technique that improves the ability of computer vision technologies to better identify and separate objects in an image, a process called segmentation.

Unlocking secrets of immune system could help combat colitis

Researchers have unlocked secrets of our ancient immune system, a major scientific advance which could help scientists and clinicians in the global fight against disease, they say.

World's first 1,000-processor chip

A microchip containing 1,000 independent programmable processors has been designed. The energy-efficient 'KiloCore' chip has a maximum computation rate of 1.78 trillion instructions per second and contains 621 million transistors.

Smart light used by researchers to track human behavior

Using the power of the light around us, researchers have significantly improved their innovative light-sensing system that tracks a person's behavior continuously and unobtrusively in real time.

Fixing vulnerabilities in Internet encryption protocol Transport Layer Security

The Internet encryption protocol TLS – short for Transport Layer Security – is being fundamentally modified. Involved in attacks, researchers have contributed to revealing security gaps in the protocol.

Empathy for others' pain rooted in cognition rather than sensation

The ability to understand and empathize with others' pain is grounded in cognitive neural processes rather than sensory ones, according to the results of a new study.

Light-matter interplay probed: Physicists achieve quantum Hall state with light

Harnessing the shared wave nature of light and matter, researchers have used light to explore some of the most intriguing questions in the quantum mechanics of materials.

NASA scientists discover unexpected mineral on Mars

Scientists have discovered an unexpected mineral in a rock sample at Gale Crater on Mars, a finding that may alter our understanding of how the planet evolved.

Pollen allergies have increased among Swedish adults

The prevalence of pollen allergies among adults in Sweden has increased. However, the prevalence of allergies to furred animals, mites or mold has not, new research shows.

Adherence to cancer prevention guidelines may reduce risk

Following cancer prevention guidelines on diet and physical activity consistently reduced overall cancer incidence and mortality, as well as reducing risk of breast, endometrial, and colorectal cancers.

Astrophysicist probes theory of black-hole accretion

Utilizing the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, one of the most powerful telescopes in the world, researchers have peered into the feeding habits of a supermassive black hole.

The switch that could double USB memory

Scientists have developed a device that employs both magnetic and electronic signals, which could provide twice the storage capacity of conventional memory devices, such as USB flash drives.

The dopamine advantage

The junctions between nerve cells responsible for releasing and receiving dopamine in the brain are a surprising mismatch that gives this chemical a strong competitive advantage, report researchers.

Heat sickens corals in global bleaching event

Australian scientists report that many surviving corals affected by mass bleaching from high sea temperatures on the northern Great Barrier Reef are the sickest they have ever seen.

Osimertinib in lung cancer: Added benefit not proven

Due to a lack of studies of direct comparisons the manufacturer subsequently submitted historical comparisons, but the visible effects were not large enough for conclusions on added benefit.

Scientists reveal sub-Saharan Africa's legacy of past migrations over last 4,000 years

Researchers have revealed that the genetic ancestries of many of sub-Saharan Africa's populations are the result of historical DNA mixing events, known as admixture, within the last 4,000 years.

Historic fossils find new life telling the story of ancient proteins

A few snippets of protein extracted from the fossil of an extinct species of giant beaver are opening a new door in paleoproteomics, the study of ancient proteins.

Researchers discover an early warning sign of transplant rejection

A new study has identified a protein that could diagnose chronic graft-versus-host disease, a serious, long-term complication that affects some patients after a blood and bone marrow transplant.

Tumor cells develop predictable characteristics that are not random, say researchers

Tumors are composed of many subpopulations of cells. Some of these subpopulations of cancer cells can be predicted and do not develop randomly as previously thought, report investigators.

Ten simple rules to use statistics effectively

Under growing pressure to report accurate findings as they interpret increasingly larger amounts of data, researchers are finding it more important than ever to follow sound statistical practices.

What are risk factors for dementia after intracerebral hemorrhage?

Larger hematoma size and location were risk factors associated with dementia after an intracerebral hemorrhage when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, according to a new article.

Adjuvant chemotherapy improves overall survival in patients with stage IB non-small cell lung cancer

The use of adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients improves overall survival and five-year OS in patients with tumor sizes ranging from 3-7 cm.

Training helps those with mild cognitive impairment, study shows

Strategy-based reasoning training can improve the cognitive performance for those with mild cognitive impairment, a preclinical stage of those at risk for Alzheimer's disease, a new study shows.

Research aims to make water-cycle modeling data more accessible

Improved publication strategy for authors who use hydrological modeling software will make model data easier for readers to understand and reuse, according to an international team of researchers.

In doctors we trust, especially when they admit to bias

A doctor's guidance may reassure us more than we realize -- especially if they are likely to recommend treatment in their field of expertise, known as "specialty bias."

New test can detect plant viruses faster, cheaper

A new test could save time and money diagnosing plant viruses, some of which can destroy millions of dollars in crops each year in Florida, says a researcher.

Protein-based risk score may help predict cardiovascular events among patients with heart disease

A new study was conducted to develop and validate a score to predict risk of cardiovascular outcomes among patients with coronary heart disease using analysis of circulating proteins.

Blacks with AFib at greater risk for adverse outcomes

Blacks with atrial fibrillation have nearly double the risk of stroke, heart failure, coronary heart disease and mortality from all causes than their white counterparts, new research shows.

Exploring the prehistory of Palawan Island through human remains

Researchers are excavating human remains from caves in Palawan Island in the Philippines to learn more about the diversity of burial and other cultural practices over the past 10,000 years.

Getting to the heart of chronic fatigue syndrome

By better understanding daily activity levels and heart rate patterns of those who suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), scientists hope to discover more about this complex illness condition.

Use of non-fit messaging may improve patient choices

When it comes to helping patients make the best choices for themselves, sometimes you have to challenge their usual way of dealing with the world, according to new research.

Coal to solar: Retraining the energy workforce

As the solar industry booms, coal workers have the opportunity to pursue new work. A new study looks at what it takes to retrain underground skills for sunnier prospects.

Multicolor super resolution imaging

Researchers have developed a new method, using super-resolution microscopy, to determine the length of stretched proteins in living cells, and monitor the dynamic binding of proteins, at sub-second timescales.

Let there be light: Engineer discovers light can stamp out defects in semiconductors for better solar panels and LED bulbs

A new theory has been developed that suggests that adding light during the manufacturing of semiconductors can reduce defects and potentially make more efficient solar cells or brighter LEDs.

Changed gut bug mix linked to C-section, antibiotics and formula lasts through baby's first year

Birth by C-section, exposure to antibiotics and formula feeding slow the development and decrease the diversity of a baby's microbes through the first year of life, new research indicates.

Tadpoles hatch in seconds to escape predator

Although red-eyed tree frog embryos appear helpless within their jelly-coated eggs, they can hatch up to two days ahead of schedule, reacting within seconds to attacks by egg thieves.

Pitch range produced by vocal cords

Vocal cords are able to produce a wide range of sound frequencies because of the larynx’s ability to stretch vocal cords and the cords’ molecular composition, report researchers.

Use of Camelid antibodies for structural biology

The use of Camelid antibodies has important implications for future development of reagents for diagnosis and therapeutics in diseases involving a group of enzymes called serine proteases, report scientists.

Fascinating orbits: Celestial bodies surprisingly erratic

Astronomers are researching the way in which celestial bodies orbit each other, now and in the future. This often turns out to be more erratic than you might think.

NFL, NBA, and NHL teams have a disadvantage when traveling west

A new study found that the NFL, NBA and NHL teams traveling from west to east had a higher winning percentage compared to teams traveling in the opposite direction.

How artists classified the animal kingdom

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries artists were fascinated by how the animal kingdom was classified. They were in some instances ahead of natural historians, a new article suggests.

Digital strategies show promise for emergency heart and stroke care

A new scientific statement reviews current research on the effectiveness and safety of using mobile devices, social media, visual media and crowdsourcing to improve emergency heart and stroke treatments.

How well do facial recognition algorithms cope with a million strangers?

Computer scientists and engineers have launched the 'MegaFace Challenge,' the world's first competition aimed at evaluating and improving the performance of face recognition algorithms at the million person scale.

Tiny algae ideal for sniffing out nutrient pollution in water

Tiny algae, called diatoms, living in water could be key to providing a definitive and clear measure of whether streams, rivers and lakes have damaging levels of nutrients in them.

'Ergo Kid' chairs, tables developed for comfort of students

A researcher has developed an adjustable tables where the front portion can be tilted for easy reading and writing in order to minimize the ergonomic health risks among school children.

Novel gene-hunting method implicates new culprit in pancreatic cancer

Using an innovative approach to identify a cancer's genetic vulnerabilities by more swiftly analyzing human tumors transplanted into mice, researchers have identified a new potential target for pancreatic cancer treatment.

Terahertz radiation: Useful source for food safety

A compact and low-cost emitter generates light across the entire terahertz spectrum. Scientists say that it provides an effective and less expensive tool for the inspection of food and drugs.

Small asteroid is Earth's constant companion

A small asteroid has been discovered in an orbit around the sun that keeps it as a constant companion of Earth, and it will remain so for centuries to come.

Extent of resection associated with likelihood of survival in glioblastoma

The extent of resection in patients with glioblastoma, an aggressive and often fatal brain tumor, was associated with the likelihood of survival and disease progression, according to a new study.

Summer session fruit fly data leads to promising new target in colorectal cancer

The role of TIP60 (alongside previously known CDK8) in allowing human colorectal cancer cells to survive at the oxygen-poor centers of tumors is now better understood, thanks to new research.

RedEye could let your phone see 24-7

Researchers have just the thing for information overload: image-processing technology that sees all and remembers only what it should. RedEye could allow computers to continuously see what their owners see.

Research shows how visual perception slows with age

When older adults tell stories, they often go off on tangents because they have trouble inhibiting other thoughts. New research shows how inhibition deficits also affect the way they see.

Revealed: New insights on causes of sudden cardiac death in the young

Genetic testing has shed new light on the deaths of nearly 500 young Australians and New Zealanders who died from sudden cardiac death in a three-year period, suggests a new report.

Drug monitoring programs reduce opioid deaths, study shows

The implementation of state prescription drug monitoring programs was associated with the prevention of approximately one opioid-related overdose death every two hours on average nationwide, according to a new study.

Bees are more productive in the city than in surrounding regions

Bees pollinate plants more frequently in the city than in the country even though they are more often infected with parasites, a factor which can shorten their lifespans, researchers report.

Energy from sunlight: Further steps towards artificial photosynthesis

Chemists have come one step closer to generating energy from sunlight: for the first time, they were able to reproduce one of the crucial phases of natural photosynthesis with artificial molecules.

A mathematical analysis of urban traffic models clarifies dispute over which approach is best

A long-running debate among traffic engineers has been resolved by researchers who have discovered that two seemingly very different models of traffic flow in cities actually have similar underlying mathematical structures.

Engineering the immune system to kill cancer cells

A new immunotherapy, a treatment that enhances immune system function in order to treat or prevent disease, is under developed as a means to more effectively target and kill cancer cells.

Shedding light on an assistant protein

Scientists can now observe in-protein motions with high spatial and temporal resolution. This is made possible by a new technology, giving new insight into the functional mechanisms of very special proteins.

High blood sugar could mean lower risk of one type of brain tumor

In a surprising twist, benign brain tumors that have previously been tied to obesity and diabetes are less likely to emerge in those with high blood sugar, new research has found.

As Alaska warms, methane emissions appear stable

Analysis of nearly three decades of air samples from Alaska's North Slope shows little change in long-term methane emissions despite significant Arctic warming over that time period, according to new research.

Silencing of gene affects people's social lives

Psychologists have found that the silencing of a specific gene may affect human social behavior, including a person's ability to form healthy relationships or to recognize the emotional states of others.

'Smoke alarm' one of 36 genes newly found to play role in pain sensation

Researchers have found that a suite of genes in both fruit flies and humans plays a role in nerve sensitivity. The research could lead to new drug targets in pain management.

Should I stay or should I go?

Researchers have been studying evacuation data and have published two new papers that may help to improve prediction models used by emergency planners, leading to more efficient evacuations and possibly saving lives.

New study helps determine which older adults might need help taking medications

Older men were 1.5 to 2 times as likely as women to need help with their medications, new research shows. The odds of needing help were 3 to 5 times greater among people with memory challenges.

Stealth nanocapsules kill Chagas parasites in mouse models

Lychnopholide, a substance isolated from a Brazilian plant, and formulated as part of 'nanocapsules' cured more than half of a group of mice that had been infected experimentally with Chagas disease parasites.

Wild boars and wart hogs may have an internal compass

New research suggests for the first time that wild boars and wart hogs have an internal magnetic compass that helps them orient themselves as they forage for food and inhabit new areas.

Present-day subsurface ocean on Pluto?

An updated thermal model for Pluto suggests that a liquid water ocean beneath the dwarf planet's ice shell is a fairly likely scenario, and that the ocean is probably still there today.

Pipeline device can treat challenging 'distal anterior' brain aneurysms

A recently introduced technology called the Pipeline Embolization Device can provide a less-invasive approach for difficult-to-treat aneurysms of the arteries supplying blood to the front of the brain, reports a new study.

New origins for farmed rice discovered

Chew on this: rice farming is a far older practice than we knew. In fact, the oldest evidence of domesticated rice has just been found in China, and it's about 9,000 years old.

Crisis in the treatment of osteoporosis

The remarkable progress made over the past 30 years to reduce fractures and dramatically improve the quality of life for millions of osteoporosis patients is rapidly being reversed, say two bone health experts.

Detailed plans for largest neutrino telescope in the world

A deep-sea array will soak up signals from neutrinos traveling through the cosmos to study the evolution of the universe and to discover more about the fundamental properties of these prized sub-atomic particles.

Siberian larch forests are still linked to the ice age

The Siberian permafrost regions include those areas of the Earth, which heat up very quickly in the course of climate change. Nevertheless, biologists are currently observing only a minimal response in forest composition.

The universe is overrun with black holes, astronomers predict

Astronomers have presented one of the most complete models of matter in the universe and predict hundreds of massive black hole mergers each year observable with the second generation of gravitational wave detectors.

How your parenting style affects your child's future

Scientists have released survey results showing that children who receive positive attention and care from their parents tend to have high incomes, high happiness levels, academic success, and a strong sense of morality.

Lessons on personalities help teens cope with social stressors, study says

Teaching teens that social and personality traits can change helps them cope with social challenges such as bullying, which in turn can help mitigate stress and improve academic performance, according to a study.

The universe is crowded with black holes, astronomers predict

Astronomers have presented one of the most complete models of matter in the universe and predict hundreds of massive black hole mergers each year observable with the second generation of gravitational wave detectors.

Study focuses on use of instructional videos to aid problem solving

New research aims to help educators quantify how the best students perform problem solving with the aid of instructional videos, a step toward learning how to better coach students in difficult engineering curricula.

Rediscovering a wasp after 101 years

A species of wasp that is a natural enemy of a wood-boring beetle that kills black locust trees has been rediscovered, more than 100 years after the last wasp of this species was found.

Children's nutrition influenced by local neighborhoods

In an innovative study, researchers used GPS technology to provide evidence that adolescents' exposure to junk food outlets during trips to and from school affects their likelihood of making a junk food purchase.

Pilot study successfully uses DNA sequencing to diagnose brain infections

In a proof-of-principle study, a team of physicians and bioinformatics experts reports they were able to diagnose or rule out suspected brain infections using so called next-generation genetic sequencing of brain tissue samples.

Male general practitioners more likely to consider heart disease a 'man’s issue'

Male general practitioners (GPs) are more likely to consider heart disease a “man’s issue” and neglect to assess cardiovascular risk in female patients, reports a study of 52 GPs and more than 2200 patients.

Map of diamond-boron bond paves way for new materials

Scientists have successfully recorded the atomic bonds between diamond and cubic boron nitride: the hardest known materials on Earth. This feat could ultimately lead to the design of new types of semiconductors, they say.

Women from the Caribbean and Africa at highest risk of ICU admission during childbirth

Women born in the Caribbean or Africa are two times more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit at the time of their delivery than Canadian-born women, a new study has found.

Blood test shows promise in gauging severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Rising blood levels of a protein called hematoma derived growth factor (HDGF) are linked to the increasing severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension, a form of damaging high blood pressure in the lungs, report researchers.

When suppressing immunity is a good thing

A receptor, first known for its role in mediating the harmful effects of the environmental pollutant dioxin in our body, is now understood to play other important roles in modulating the innate immune response.

New statistical approach will help researchers better determine cause-effect

Researchers have developed a new statistical technique that can help scientists determine causation of effects they are studying. This method can help scientists advance research that otherwise would stall out in its early phases.

Nearly 10 Million Adults Found to Be Severely Nearsighted in the United States

About 9.6 million U.S. adults are severely nearsighted, a new study shows. Researchers also found that 41,000 suffer a rare complication that can cause blindness, with the prevalence rate among women double that of men.

Ultra-thin slices of diamonds reveal geological processes

By using ultra-thin slices of diamonds, researchers have found the first direct evidence for the formation of diamonds by a process known as redox freezing. In this process, carbonate melts crystallize to form diamond.

Moral dilemma with driverless cars: Who gets protected, the driver or pedestrians?

A new study shows that the public is conflicted over safety scenarios concerning driverless cars, taking a notably inconsistent approach to the safety of autonomous vehicles, should they become a reality on the roads.

New electron microscope method detects atomic-scale magnetism

Scientists can now detect magnetic behavior at the atomic level with a new electron microscopy technique. The researchers took a counter intuitive approach by taking advantage of optical distortions that they typically try to eliminate.

Brain markers of numeric, verbal and spatial reasoning abilities

A new study begins to clarify how brain structure and chemistry give rise to specific aspects of 'fluid intelligence,' the ability to adapt to new situations and solve problems one has never encountered before.

The healing powers of music: Mozart and Strauss for treating hypertension

The music of Mozart and Strauss is able to lower blood lipid concentrations and the heart rate. This is the result of a study of the effect of different musical genres on the cardiovascular system.

94 million-year-old climate change event holds clues for future

A major climate event millions of years ago that caused substantial change to the ocean’s ecological systems may hold clues as to how the Earth will respond to future climate change, a researcher said.

Massive vertebrae sheds new light on Alamosaurus sanjuanensis

The discovery nearly two decades ago of nine beautifully articulated vertebrae at Big Bend National Park sheds new light on a 66 million-year-old sauropod dinosaur native to Texas and the North American southwest called Alamosaurus sanjuanensis.

Mycobacterium in olive oil for cancer treatment

Researchers announced one year ago that the cells of the Mycobacterium brumae offer an improved alternative to current bladder cancer treatments such as BCG (an immunotherapy based on the Mycobacterium bovis), which can cause infections. 

New study reveals how HIV enters cell nucleus

Scientists have solved a mystery that has long baffled HIV researchers: How does HIV manage to enter the nucleus of immune system cells? The discovery could lead to effective new drugs to treat HIV/AIDS.

Researchers offer new theory on how climate affects violence

Researchers have long struggled to explain why some violent crime rates are higher near the equator than other parts of the world. Now, a team of researchers has developed a model that could help explain why.

Australia 20 years after gun reform: No mass shootings, declining firearm deaths

Since gun law reform and the Firearms Buyback program 20 years ago, Australia has seen an accelerating decline in intentional firearm deaths and an absence of fatal mass shootings, a new report shows after a landmark study.

How molecules can do statistics

Researchers have shown how noise filters can be realized using biochemical reactions. This could help improve the reliability of synthetic biological circuits and play an important role in the development of new medical therapies, they say.

Mother mongooses may risk death to protect unborn children

Mothers will do anything to protect their children, but mongooses go a step further. Mongooses risk their own survival to protect their unborn children through a remarkable ability to adapt their own bodies, says new research.

Scientists use CRISPR to discover Zika, dengue weaknesses

Scientists have performed the first CRISPR/Cas9 screen to discover human proteins that Zika virus needs for replication. This work reveals new leads that may be useful for halting Zika, dengue and other emerging viral infections.

Harsh parenting, food insecurity predicts obesity for young women

The adolescent years can be full of changes. A new study now suggests that when these years include prolonged periods of food insecurity coupled with harsh parenting practices, females are prone to obesity in early adulthood.

Some plant-based therapies associated with modest improvement in menopausal symptoms

An analysis of more than 60 studies suggests that some plant-based therapies are associated with modest reductions in the frequency of hot flashes and vaginal dryness but no significant reduction in night sweats, according to a study.

Unexpected findings reveal insight into how cancer spreads in the body

Cancer cells appear to depend on an unusual survival mechanism to spread around the body, according to an early study. The discovery could help with future development of novel treatments to prevent metastasis and secondary tumors.

Treatment of humans, pigs may reduce endemic tapeworm infection

The transmission of Taenia solium, a pork tapeworm species that infects humans and causes late-onset seizures and epilepsy, can be stopped on a population-wide level with mass treatments of both pigs and humans, researchers have shown.

One-third of hospitals in developing world lack running water

A study of 430 hospitals in the developing world found that more than one-third lacked running water, a deficiency that can lead to unsanitary conditions for patients in general and dangerous conditions for those who need surgery.

3-dimensional prostate model created

A team of researchers are developing a three-dimensional model for prostate cancer research based on cryogels. The model will be used to reproduce natural processes and above all to examine the development and the progression of tumors.

Plant kingdom provides two new candidates for the war on antibiotic resistance

New research has discovered peptides from two crop species that have antimicrobial effects on bacteria implicated in food spoilage and food poisoning. They are similar in structure to a human peptide used to guard against beer-spoiling bacteria.

Contagious cancers are spreading among several species of shellfish

Direct transmission of cancer among marine animals may be much more common than once thought, new research suggests. The cancer, known as disseminated neoplasia, is a leukemia-like disease that affects bivalves in many parts of the world.

Coexistence of superconductivity and charge density waves observed

Physicists have studied an artificial structure composed of alternating layers of ferromagnetic and superconducting materials. Charge density waves induced by the interfaces were found to extend deeply into the superconducting regions, indicating new ways to manipulate superconductivity.

The silencer: Study reveals how a cancer gene promotes tumor growth

A new study describes how a known cancer gene, EGFR, silences genes that typically suppress tumors. The finding may lead to the development of more effective, individualized treatment for patients with lung cancer and other cancer types.

Next-generation fluorescent, LED lighting thanks to new phosphor?

Researchers have discovered a new phosphor that could make next-generation fluorescent and LED lighting even cheaper and more efficient. The team used highly luminescent clusters of silver atoms and the porous framework of minerals known as zeolites.

Four new risk genes associated with multiple sclerosis discovered

Scientists have identified four new risk genes that are altered in patients with multiple sclerosis. The results point to a possible involvement of cellular mechanisms in the development of the disease, through which environmental influences affect gene regulation.

Teachers optimistic about Common Core writing standards, but not tests

Teachers believe the Common Core standards in their states can improve how they teach writing, but they also find plenty of shortcomings with the standards -- and with the associated state writing tests in particular, new research shows.

Marketing study shows lenient return policy may increase sales

A meta-analysis of retail return policies may lead businesses to modify their policies to increase sales and reduce returns. The study found that return policies that offer consumers more monetary rewards are likely to increase their consumer purchases.

Manta rays are local commuters, not long-distance travelers, study finds

Oceanic manta rays -- often thought to take epic migrations -- might actually be homebodies, according to a new study. A research team studied satellite-tracked manta rays to shed light on the lives of these mysterious ocean giants.

Droppings activate the immune system in nestlings

Until now, it was believed that birds removed droppings from their nests to avoid the appearance of parasites. A recent investigation contradicts this hypothesis, concluding that feces activate the immune system of blackbird chicks and only attract insects.

Experts take strong stance on testosterone deficiency, treatment

In an effort to address widespread concerns related to testosterone deficiency (TD) and its treatment with testosterone therapy, a group of international experts has developed a set of resolutions and conclusions to provide clarity for physicians and patients.

GraphExeter illuminates bright new future for flexible lighting devices

Researchers have pioneered an innovative new technique to make flexible screens more effective and efficient. GraphExeter -- a material adapted from the 'wonder material' graphene -- can substantially improve the effectiveness of large, flat, flexible lighting, say investigators.

Landmark study gives clearest picture of genetic causes of bowel cancer

A landmark study has given the most detailed picture yet of the genetics of bowel cancer. The study examined all the genes from more than 1,000 people with bowel cancer and is the largest of its type ever conducted.

Philippine fishing and its links to Japan’s 'sea women'

A researcher is studying the ancient Japanese culture of “ama” – women who traditionally free-dive in the sea in search of seaweed, lobsters, snail “turbo” shells and, in the distant past, pearls – and its potential connections to Philippine maritime cultures.

X-ray echoes of a shredded star provide close-up of 'killer' black hole

Billions of years ago in the heart of a distant galaxy, a monster black hole shredded a passing star and emitted X-rays. Now astronomers are using X-ray echoes to study a newly awakened black hole for the first time.

Has incidence of Parkinson's disease increased over past 30 years?

A study of patients in a Minnesota county suggests the incidence (new cases) of parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease may have increased over the past 30 years but that trend may not be genuine and must be confirmed in other populations.

New findings challenge current view on origins of Parkinson's disease

'Mutant flies' have provided insight into the origins of Parkinson's disease, report scientists. The work found that the death of neurons associated with the disease was prevented when chemicals that block the effects of endoplasmic reticulum stress were used.

New research details how big game follow spring green-up

While biologists long have thought that animals essentially 'surf the green wave' of new plant growth from low-elevation winter range to high-elevation summer range, the new research has measured how precisely the animal movements are aligned with the green-up.

Dengue virus exposure may amplify Zika infection

Previous exposure to the dengue virus may increase the potency of Zika infection, according to research. The early-stage laboratory findings suggest the recent explosive outbreak of Zika may have been driven in part by previous exposure to the dengue virus.

Astrophysicists release new study of one of the first stars

A research team has used the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope to study key regions of the ultraviolet spectrum of a star thought to have been enriched by elements from one of the first generation of stars.

Major differences between women and men who commit deadly violence

Women who commit deadly violence are different in many ways from male perpetrators, both in terms of the most common victims, the way in which the murder is committed, the place where it is carried out and the perpetrator's background.

Long-term opioids may not be best pain management option for all sickle cell patients

In a small study looking at pain assessments in adults with sickle cell disease, researchers say overall, those treated long-term with opioids often fared worse in measures of pain, fatigue and curtailed daily activities than those not on long-term opioids.

Simple reward-based learning suits adolescents best

Adolescents focus on rewards and are less able to learn to avoid punishment or consider the consequences of alternative actions, finds a new study. The study compared how adolescents and adults learn to make choices based on the available information.

New model predicts complication risks in surgery for spinal cord compression

A simple model consisting of four risk factors can help surgeons to predict the risk of complications after surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy -- a common condition causing compression of the spinal cord in the neck, reports a new study.

Researchers explore epigenetic influences of chronic pain

New research shows how the DNA-binding protein MeCP2 can regulate the expression of a large number of genes that modulate pain. This study is a first step in identifying new, non-opioid drugs for treating the condition, say the scientists involved.

Tracking aluminum used to purify tap water

Scientists have developed a new analysis method that uses magnetic fields to quickly and accurately measure the concentration of aluminum used to purify tap water. These findings can potentially be used in developing efficient and environmentally-conscious coagulants for water treatment.

Scientists reveal single-neuron gene landscape of the human brain

A team of scientists has completed the first large-scale assessment of single neuronal 'transcriptomes.' Their research reveals a surprising diversity in the molecules that human brain cells use in transcribing genetic information from DNA to RNA and producing proteins.

New cancer immunotherapy drugs linked to arthritis in some patients

Case reports on 13 cancer patients suggest that a small number of cancer patients taking the immunotherapy drugs ipilimumab and nivolumab may be at some higher-than-normal risk of developing autoimmune joint and tissue diseases, including inflammatory arthritis, according to a preliminary study.

Eyewitnesses who collaborate make fewer mistakes in police interview

Witnesses correct each other's errors. Two recently published research studies show that witnesses make fewer errors when they are interviewed together than when they are interviewed separately. This stands in sharp contrast with current police guidelines to always interview witnesses separately.

Circuit technology that resolves issues with high-frequency piezoelectric resonators

Scientists have developed a new algorithm and circuit technology allowing high-frequency piezoelectric resonators to be used for phase locked loops (PLL). It was confirmed that these operate with low noise and have an excellent Figure of Merit compared to conventional PLLs.

Sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure: Differing added benefit

Due to a subgroup effect, reviewers have found that there is an indication of a minor added benefit for patients with diabetes, and an indication of a considerable added benefit for patients without diabetes, when using Sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure.

Breast cancer cells use newfound pathway to survive low oxygen levels in tumors

Oxygen is important for the proper function of all human cells, but cancer cells thrive even when deprived of it. Now, researchers have identified a new signaling pathway that helps cancer cells cope with the lack of oxygen found inside tumors.

Cross-cultural marriage means higher incomes

If you are a male immigrant and marry a woman from a country other than your own, you increase your chances of a good job and a high income. This applies whether the woman you marry is a native or not.

An effective but painful treatment

Photodynamic therapy is an effective treatment for early-stage skin cancer. However, this therapy can cause patients severe pain. The reason for this was previous a mystery to researchers. Physiologists have now discovered that it is due to two specific ion channels.

Evolutionary biologists show that sexual selection increases the number of species and impacts global diversity

When you're a firefly, finding "the one" can change the world. Literally. A new study demonstrates that for fireflies, octopuses and other animals that choose mates via bioluminescent courtship, sexual selection increases the number of species -- thereby impacting global diversity.

Cosmopolitan snow algae accelerate the melting of Arctic glaciers

The role of red pigmented snow algae in melting Arctic glaciers has been strongly underestimated, suggests a study. The new work shows a 13 percent reduction of the albedo over the course of one melting season caused by red-pigmented snow algal blooms.

Where do rubber trees get their rubber?

Researchers have succeeded in decoding the genome sequence for Hevea brasiliensis, the natural rubber tree native to Brazil. The study reports a draft genome sequence that covers more than 93 percent of expressed genes, and pinpoints regions specific to the biosynthesis of rubber.

Early behavior problems impact long-term educational attainment more for boys than girls

Behavioral problems in early childhood have a larger negative effect on high school and college completion rates for boys than girls, which partially explains the substantial gender gap in educational attainment that currently exists in the United States, suggests a new report.

Analyzing how ISIS recruits through social media

Researchers have developed a model to identify behavioral patterns among serious online groups of ISIS supporters that could provide cyber police and other anti-terror watchdogs a roadmap to their activity and indicators when conditions are ripe for the onset of real-world attacks.

Has breast MRI been performed upside down?

A new phase 1 clinical trial evaluated the differences between pre-operative prone and supine MRI exams in 12 women undergoing lumpectomy for breast cancer. Researchers demonstrated that considerable deformity of the breast and tumor position occurs when patients are imaged in the prone position.

Low attention control in early adolescence is a genetic risk factor for anxiety disorders

Low attention control in early adolescence is related to a genetic risk factor for four different anxiety disorders, researchers have found. Young teens who suffer from anxiety are also more vulnerable to additional problems like depression, drug dependence, suicidal behavior and educational underachievement.

Mystery of powerful lightning at sea not solved completely

The mystery of why most of the most powerful lightning on Earth happens over the oceans isn't solved, but a few of the usual suspects are no longer in custody. It's possible the increased presence of salt in the atmosphere plays a role.

Particle zoo in a quantum computer

Physicists in Innsbruck have realized the first quantum simulation of lattice gauge theories, building a bridge between high-energy theory and atomic physics. Research teams describe how they simulated the creation of elementary particle pairs out of the vacuum by using a quantum computer.

Highly efficient agent against Wilson disease

Scientists describe a small peptide that very efficiently binds excess copper from liver cells. This molecule comes from a bacterium's bag of tricks and could be suitable for treating Wilson disease. In an experimental model it has already proven superior to conventional medicines.

Hubble confirms new dark spot on Neptune

New images confirm the presence of a dark vortex on Neptune. Though similar features were seen during the Voyager 2 flyby of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in 1989 and by Hubble in 1994, this vortex is the first one observed on Neptune in the 21st century.

Regenerative medicine offering new treatment for bronchopleural fistulas

For the first time in human application, researchers successfully closed an open wound on the upper chest caused by postoperative complications of lung removal. The protocol and approach were based on an ongoing trial investigating this method to treat anal fistulas in Crohn's disease.

Students make your plant spin, and they have other Internet of Things innovations, too

Internet of things, IoT, is a fast expanding network of consumer and industrial devices, i.e., “things”. One lab has a growing good reputation for letting the computer science students develop smart IoT devices and services; a new article outlines some of these tricks.

New clues to COPD linked to proteostasis imbalance caused by cigarette smoke

Free radicals can reach the endoplasmic reticulum, a cellular organelle that is critical in manufacturing and transporting fats, steroids, hormones and various proteins, and alter its function by oxidizing and damaging its most abundant and crucial to protein folding chaperone, Protein Disulfide Isomerase (PDI).

Possible solution to 'faint young Sun paradox'

In the first billion years of Earth's history, the planet was bombarded by primordial asteroids, while a faint Sun provided much less heat. Scientists now posit that this tumultuous beginning may have ultimately fostered life on Earth, particularly in terms of sustaining liquid water.

Researchers find more uses for immune system's 'Swiss army knife'

MAIT cells are little know but have been shown to be generally active against bacteria, unlike other T-cells which respond to specific pathogens. Now, researchers have found that they can respond to chemical messengers in the immune system to respond to viruses as well.

Loss of essential protein in the choroid plexus epithelium linked to hydrocephalus

A team led by researchers reports that mice lacking the protein Alix develop hydrocephalus or 'water on the brain.' Alix ensures that epithelial cells of the choroid plexus are oriented correctly with respect to one another to prevent compromise of the epithelial barrier.

What did Earth's ancient magnetic field look like?

Earth's ancient magnetic field was significantly different than the present day field, originating from several poles rather than the familiar two, new research suggests. Then, shortly after our planet's core solidified, this work predicts that Earth's magnetic field transitioned to a 'strong,' two-pole one.

Titan shines light on high-temperature superconductor pathway

Scientists have used the Titan supercomputer at ORNL to simulate cuprates on the path to superconductivity. The team focused on a pivotal juncture on the cuprates’ path called the pseudogap phase, an in-between phase before superconductivity in which cuprates exhibit both insulating and conducting properties.

Tele-psychiatry reaches rural kids in need

Experts estimate that as many as 1 in 5 children in the United States have behavioral health issues. However, of these children, only 20 percent receive mental health services. Now, a study shows that video-based mental health services are bridging the gap by providing care to underserved areas.

New knowledge about DNA repair can be turned into cancer inhibitors

A molecular mechanism that reads so-called epigenetic information and boosts repair of lesions in our DNA has been discovered by scientists. This knowledge can be used to develop new targeted cancer treatment in which 'inhibitor molecules' can prevent cancer cells from repairing themselves, they report.

Improvement seen in US diet

In nationally representative surveys conducted between 1999 and 2012 in the United States, several improvements in self-reported dietary habits were identified, such as increased consumption of whole grains, with additional findings suggesting persistent or worsening disparities based on race/ethnicity and education and income level, report researchers.

Light combined with time-based data sees more deeply inside the body

Scientists provide an overview of recent developments in light-based technologies that enable a deeper noninvasive look into the human body. The technologies hold promise to enable compact, wearable devices for point-of-care diagnostics and powerful new systems that provide even more information from under the skin.

Psychiatric diagnostic tools may not be valid for African Americans

African Americans perceive depression as a weakness inconsistent with notions of strength in the community, rather than as a health condition, new research shows. The study results have significant implications for the clinical assessment of depression and for the measurement of depression in community surveys.

Empowering addiction treatment patients to engage in care may improve overall health

In the first trial of an intervention focused on increasing alcohol and drug treatment patients' engagement in their own health care, researchers found that patients who received six intervention sessions had greater involvement in managing their health and health care than those receiving fewer sessions.

Early arrival gives bluebirds an edge in keeping nest sites

Finders, keepers: Mountain Bluebirds are more likely to defend nest cavities against competition from other birds such as swallows if they get there first, but climate change may disrupt the migratory timing that lets them beat their rivals to the punch, according to new research.

Hidden values of open ocean

A team of scientists has for the first time attached a dollar value to several of the leading 'ecosystem services' -- or natural benefits -- provided by the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, an immense region stretching west from the west coasts of North and South America.

Computer sketches set to make online shopping much easier

A computer program that recognizes sketches could help consumers shop more efficiently. Fine-grained sketch-based image retrieval (SBIR) overcomes problems with using words to describe visual objects in words, especially when dealing with precise details, and with using photos, which can restrict the search far too narrowly.

Scientists discover on/off switch for obesity-associated cancer

Having established that excessive fat tissue can fuel the growth of certain cancers, researchers have turned their attention to the molecular mechanisms involved in the process in the hopes of developing new cancer treatments. Now new research sheds light on the link between obesity and cancer.

E-cigarette use can alter hundreds of genes involved in airway immune defense

Smoking cigarettes alters dozens of genes important for immune defense in epithelial cells in the respiratory tract. These changes likely increase the risk of bacterial infections, viruses, and inflammation. Now, scientists report that e-cigarette use alters hundreds of genes, including the same ones that smoking suppress.

Caribbean Sea acts like a whistle and can be 'heard' from space

A study of the Caribbean Sea has revealed that, in the midst of all the noise of the ocean, this region behaves like a whistle, which blows so loudly that it can be 'heard' from space in the form of oscillations of the Earth's gravity field.

Pterosaur flies safely home after 95 million years

With the help of University of Alberta scientists, a newly described pterosaur has finally flown home. This spectacular fossil material was discovered in a private Lebanese limestone quarry more than a decade ago and has led to what UAlberta paleontologist Michael Caldwell calls “priceless scientific findings.”

How the mouse outlived 'the giant'

By scanning the fossil remains of mammal-like reptiles from the Karoo of South Africa, scientists have found that these reptiles, called therapsids, may have evolved hair, and the use of whiskers as a sensory tool in order to operate at night well before the Mesozoic age.

Turning sewage sludge into concrete

Dried sewage sludge could be recycled by adding it to cement to make concrete, report researchers in Malaysia. Disposing sludge left over from treating sewage water is a major challenge for wastewater plants in Malaysia, and as the population climbs, the problem is only expected to worsen.

First harvest of ancient southern wheat exceeds expectations

Last month, a scientist harvested about 145 pounds of Purple Straw seed, which was grown from less than half a pound. Purple Straw is the only heirloom wheat to have been cultivated continually in the South from the Colonial Period into the last quarter of the 20th century.

How China can ramp up wind power

China has an opportunity to massively increase its use of wind power -- if it properly integrates wind into its existing power system, according to a new study. The research forecasts that wind power could provide 26 percent of China's projected electricity demand by 2030, up from 3 percent in 2015.

Marine debris on the shores of an isolated tropical atoll in the Indian Ocean

The huge volumes of litter we leave in the oceans is one of the greatest environmental problems of our time. Scientists have studied how the beaches on a remote atoll in the Indian Ocean have been covered with litter, even though the atoll has no permanent residents.

Taking notes boosts memory of jurors, new study finds

Jurors who are allowed to take and review notes during court trials are less likely to forget critical evidence, a new study has found. This finding has important implications for justice, as jurors who forget critical trial evidence often reach different verdicts to those who remember it.

Measure greenhouse gases from space

Space agencies examine the extent of greenhouse gases in the air via prisms and gratings in satellites. New technology now makes it possible to connect both components with each other so that they are suitable for space thus achieving a new level of quality for spectral resolution.

Courts of old Istanbul yield insights on modern poverty

Few might seek insights on Middle Eastern conflict or modern poverty in records of the Ottoman empire. Yet when an economist combed through centuries-old court documents, he made a surprising discovery with implications for modern times: The courts' actions had unintended consequences that inadvertently undercut people's finances.

Analysis of media reporting reveals new information about snakebites and how and when they occur

A new study analyzed media reports of snakebites in the United States. Investigators found that media coverage detailed victim circumstances better than current quantitative data, and that the majority of snakebites may actually be 'legitimate,' meaning they occur by surprise, without intentional contact, in a natural setting.

Primary care visits result in more colon cancer screening, better followups

People who visit their primary care physicians are more likely to get potentially life-saving colon cancer screenings and follow up on abnormal stool blood test results -- even in health systems that heavily promote mail-in home stool blood tests that don't require a doctor visit, a study shows.

Astronomers find the first 'wind nebula' around a magnetar

Astronomers have discovered a vast cloud of high-energy particles called a wind nebula around a rare ultra-magnetic neutron star, or magnetar, for the first time. The find offers a unique window into the properties, environment and outburst history of magnetars, which are the strongest magnets in the universe.

Itchy inflammation of mosquito bites helps viruses replicate

University of Leeds study has found that inflammation where a mosquito has bitten not only helps a virus such as Zika or dengue establish an infection in the body more quickly, but that it also helps it to spread around the body, increasing the likelihood of severe illness.

Substance user’s social connections: Family, friends, and the foresaken

It’s no secret that social environments can play a role in the development as well as recovery from substance-abuse problems. A new study, designed to uncover how individual relationships respond to substance use and social influences, has found that the links between substance use and social connections are bidirectional and strong.

Insects were already using camouflage 100 million years ago

Those who go to a masked ball consciously slip into a different role, in order to avoid being recognized. Insects were already doing something very similar in the Cretaceous: They cloaked themselves in pieces of plants, grains of sand, or the remains of their prey, in order, for example, to be invisible to predators. Scientists hav now investigated such 'invisibility cloaks' encased in amber.

Understanding Risk Factors Involved in Initiation of Adolescent Alcohol Use

Underage drinking is a major public health and social problem in the U.S. The ability to identify at-risk children before they initiate heavy alcohol use has immense clinical and public health implications. A new study has found that demographic factors, cognitive functioning, and brain features during the early-adolescence ages of 12 to 14 years can predict which youth eventually initiate alcohol use during later adolescence around the age of 18.

New link found between diabetes, Alzheimer's disease

Drugs used to treat diabetes could also be used to treat Alzheimer's disease, and vice versa, according to new research. This is also the first study of its kind to show that Alzheimer's disease can lead to diabetes, as opposed to diabetes occurring first as was previously thought.

New research important to atmospheric photochemistry

A photochemical sciences research team has shown that a new and unusual reaction path in chemistry occurs not only in the gas phase, but also in solution. According to the researchers, the finding also establishes the direct link between chemical reactivity in the gas phase and in solution.

'Amazing protein diversity' is discovered in the maize plant

New research establishes the amazing diversity of maize -- specifically the variety of proteins that the plant's genes can generate. The finding has great import for agriculture, as maize is one of the world's top-three staple foods, along with rice and wheat accounting for two-thirds of world food consumption.

Small brain, astounding performance: How elephantnose fish switch between electrical, visual sense

The elephantnose fish explores objects in its surroundings by using its eyes or its electrical sense -- sometimes both together. Zoologists have now found out how complex the processing of these sensory impressions is. With its tiny brain, the fish achieves performance comparable to that of humans or mammals.

Versatile method yields synthetic biology building blocks

In synthetic biology, scientists routinely create micro-compartments, so called vesicles, such as liposomes and polymersomes. Scientists have developed a high-throughput method -- based on microfluidics -- for creating stable liposomes and polymersomes of controlled size without having to change the design of the device or the combination of liquids.

Which animals will cope with climate change droughts?

Scientists believe the current rate of climate change is unprecedented in Earth's history and will lead to more and worse droughts in many areas. Now a research team may have found a way to predict which mammals will best cope with drought -- and which won't do so well.

Insulin-sensitive fat leads to obesity

SORLA is a protein that influences the balance of metabolic processes in adipose tissue, a particular form of fat. Too much of it makes fat cells overly sensitive to insulin, which leads them to break down less fat. SORLA was previously known for its protective role in Alzheimer's disease.

New heart failure therapy could prevent substantial number of deaths, study finds

A study estimates that almost 28,500 deaths could be prevented each year in the US through use of a new FDA-approved class of cardiovascular medication that helps reduce mortality in patients diagnosed with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, the percentage of blood pumped from the heart with each contraction.

Service robot Floka’s big debut

What must an intelligent apartment provide in order to make everyday life safe, healthy, and comfortable? Robotics experts have developed the service robot Floka. Floka is fitted with a new "social" robotic head that was also developed at CITEC whose facial expressions can signal happiness, worry, interest, or anger.

'Flower Power': Photovoltaic cells replicate rose petals

With a surface resembling that of plants, solar cells improve light-harvesting and thus generate more power. Scientists reproduced the epidermal cells of rose petals that have particularly good antireflection properties and integrated the transparent replicas into an organic solar cell. This resulted in a relative efficiency gain of twelve percent.

Parents, especially fathers, play key role in young adults' health

Parents, and especially fathers, play a vital role in developing healthy behaviors in young adults and helping to prevent obesity in their children. When it came to predicting whether a young male will become overweight or obese, the mother-son relationship mattered far less than the relationship between father and son.

Gender gap found in cardiac arrest care, outcomes

Women treated at a hospital after cardiac arrest may be less likely than men to receive potentially life-saving procedures. The number of cardiac arrest patients treated at hospitals increased and in-hospital death rates have fallen for both sexes, however women were less likely to survive, according to a new study.

Fix for 3-billion-year-old genetic error could dramatically improve genetic sequencing

Researchers found a fix for a 3-billion-year-old glitch in one of the major carriers of information needed for life, RNA, which until now produced errors when making copies of genetic information. The discovery will increase precision in genetic research and could dramatically improve medicine based on a person's genetic makeup.

Self-learning arm controlled by thought

Scientists are developing a robotic arm prototype and its control algorithm using myoelectric signals. The mechanical limb will independently recognize the motions of its owner and be able to perform all the same motions like a healthy arm. The scientists estimate the final cost of the device of 600 - 1,000 USD.

How squash agriculture spread bees in pre-Columbian North America

Using genetic markers, researchers have for the first time shown how cultivating a specific crop led to the expansion of a pollinator species. In this case, the researchers found that the spread of a bee species in pre-Columbian Central and North America was tied to the spread of squash agriculture.

Researchers discover new chemical sensing technique

Researchers have reported a new technique to determine the chemical composition of materials using near-infrared light. The work could have a number of potential applications, including improving downhole drilling analysis in the oil and gas industry and broadening the spectrum of solar light that can be harvested and converted to electricity.

Migratory bears down in the dumps

Biologists working in Turkey discovered two surprising facts about a group of 16 brown bears: First, six of the bears seasonally migrated between feeding and breeding sites, the first known brown bears to do so. Second, and more sobering, the other 10 bears stayed in one spot all year long: the city dump.

Could wearable biosensors become part of drug rehab programs?

There is merit in looking at the use of wearable biosensors to detect whether opioid users stay focused on their rehabilitation programs. This follows a preliminary study. Scientists tested the use of wristband sensors worn by a group of patients in an emergency room who were receiving opioids for severe pain relief.

More reasons to eat your broccoli

Broccoli and related vegetables in the Brassica family are loaded with health-promoting compounds known as phenolics. Researchers have identified a large number of candidate genes controlling phenolic compound accumulation in broccoli. These genes will be used in future breeding programs to pack even more phenolic compounds into broccoli and other Brassica vegetables.

Lizard tail adaptations may reflect predators' color vision capabilities

Juveniles of numerous lizard species have a vividly blue-colored tail that likely serves to deflect predator attacks toward the detachable tail rather than the lizard's body. Now researchers have found that certain differences in blue and UV light reflectance in lizard tails are likely adaptations to predators with different color vision capabilities.

Estuaries like Chesapeake Bay could contribute more to global warming than once thought

Estuaries and coastal systems are thought to be a relatively small source of atmospheric methane, as little as 3 percent. However, a new study has found that the methane building up in the Chesapeake Bay alone, if released, would be equal to the current estimates for all the estuaries in the world combined.

New tool to measure polarization of light

Researchers have developed a new tool for detecting and measuring the polarization of light based on a single spatial sampling of the light, rather than the multiple samples required by previous technologies. The new device makes use of the unique properties of organic polymers, rather than traditional silicon, for polarization detection and measurement.

For nature, gravel-bed rivers most important feature in mountainous western North America

Gravel-bed river floodplains are some of the most ecologically important habitats in North America, according to a new study by scientists from the US and Canada. Their research shows how broad valleys coming out of glaciated mountains provide highly productive and important habitat for a large diversity of aquatic, avian and terrestrial species.

Compound shown to reduce brain damage caused by anesthesia in early study

An experimental drug prevented learning deficits in young mice exposed repeatedly to anesthesia, researchers report. The study results may have implications for children who must have several surgeries, and so are exposed repeatedly to general anesthesia. Past studies have linked such exposure to a higher incidence of learning disabilities, attention deficits and hyperactivity.

Broccoli sprout extract may protect against oral cancer recurrence

Potent doses of broccoli sprout extract activate a 'detoxification' gene and may help prevent cancer recurrence in survivors of head and neck cancer, according to a 'green chemoprevention' trial. It is the first study demonstrating that the extract protects against oral cancer, with the results of human, animal and laboratory tests reported today.

'Coral zombies' may spell doom for coral reefs around world

Scientists have known for a while that coral reefs around the world are dying, and in a worst-case scenario they were counting on large, healthy-looking corals to repopulate. But a new study shows that these seemingly healthy colonies are 'Coral Zombies' with no reproductive ability, which makes them useless in a recovery effort.

Faster detection of pathogens in the lungs

What used to take several weeks is now possible in two days: thanks to new molecular-based methods, mycobacterial pathogens that cause pulmonary infections or tuberculosis can now be detected much more quickly. Time-consuming bacteria cultures no longer need to be taken from the patient samples, meaning that a suitable therapy can be started quickly.

Beneficial bacteria may protect breasts from cancer

Bacteria that have the potential to abet breast cancer are present in the breasts of cancer patients, while beneficial bacteria are more abundant in healthy breasts, where they may actually be protecting women from cancer, according a study. These findings may lead ultimately to the use of probiotics to protect women against breast cancer.

DNA testing challenges traditional species classification

Experts have made a surprising discovery that could subvert the significance of traditional criteria used for species classification. Employing novel techniques to retrieve DNA sequences from thousands of genomic locations, the researchers were able to uncover an unusual case of cryptic speciation in the Streak-eared Bulbul [Pycnonotus blanfordi], a bird widespread throughout South-east Asian countries.

In mice, daughters of overweight dads have altered breast tissue, higher cancer risk

Obese male mice and normal weight female mice produce female pups that are overweight at birth through childhood, and have delayed development of their breast tissue as well as increased rates of breast cancer. The findings come from one of the first animal studies to examine the impact of paternal obesity on future generations' cancer risk.

Childhood antibiotic treatments reduce diversity, stability of intestinal microbiota

A project followed the development of 39 Finnish infants from birth to the age of three. Half of the children received 9-15 antibiotic treatments during the research period, and the other half did not receive any such treatments. Stool samples were collected from the children monthly between the ages of 2 and 36 months, for a total of 1069 samples.

Memory loss caused by West Nile virus explained

Thousands of West Nile virus survivors live with neurological problems such as memory loss that last for years. New research shows that these long-term problems may be due to the patient's own immune system destroying parts of their neurons, which suggests that intervening in the immune response may help prevent brain damage or help patients recover.

Smell tells intruder mice how to behave

Male mice appear to be precisely wired to know when they are intruders in another male's territory, according to a new study. The smell gives it away. But this study found that a genetically specific cluster of hypothalamic cells is wired to the olfactory system and responds only when a male mouse enters another male's cage.

Cross talk between hormone receptors has unexpected effects

Although the estrogen receptor is considered dominant in breast cancer, the progesterone receptor assumes control when both receptors are present and exposed to estrogens and progestins. Then, the progesterone receptor drives estrogen receptor activity. Treating tumor-bearing mice with an estrogen antagonist and a progestin antagonist caused rapid tumor regression, report scientists at the conclusion of their study.

Doubled sensitivity could allow gravitational wave detectors to reach deeper into space

Researchers report on improvements to what is called a squeezed vacuum source. Although not part of the original Advanced LIGO design, injecting the new squeezed vacuum source into the LIGO detector could help double its sensitivity. This would allow detection of gravitational waves that are far weaker or that originate from farther away than is possible now.

State opioid laws appear to have no impact on prescribing for one vulnerable population

States are aggressively enacting laws aimed at curbing prescription opioid abuse and overdose. The laws appear to have no impact on hazardous prescribing for disabled workers, a large population with high opioid use. People in this group, presumably a population the laws aim to protect, are 10 times more likely than average to die of prescription opioid overdose.

New treatment approaches to improve peritoneal dialysis

One of the main functions of the kidneys is to filter metabolic products out of the blood. If the kidneys are no longer able to do this, the blood has to be artificially purified and drained of excess fluid. This is the purpose of dialysis. Now researchers are seeking new, better therapeutic approaches for those patients on dialysis.

New research uncovers why an increase in probability feels riskier than a decrease

New research uncovers why an increase in probability feels riskier than a decrease. The research falls under the realm of subjective probability, also known as likelihood or risk. While past research has looked at how people interpret single estimates of the probability for a future event, the focus of this research was on how estimates change over time.

Neonicotinoid pesticides cause harm to honeybees

One possible cause of the alarming bee mortality we are witnessing is the use of the very active systemic insecticides called neonicotinoids. A previously unknown and harmful effect of neonicotinoids has been identified by researchers. They discovered that neonicotinoids in low and field-relevant concentrations reduce the concentration of acetylcholine in the royal jelly/larval food secreted by nurse bees.

Female blue tits sing in the face of danger

Birdsong has long been associated with courtship or competitive behavior. And males were considered to be more active. Now a research team shows that female singing is much more common. They demonstrated for the first time a connection between the song of female blue tits and the presence of a predator. This singing appears to be about their own defense.

Arsenic accumulates in the nuclei of plants' cells

Toxic arsenic initially accumulates in the nuclei of plants' cells. This has been revealed by an X-ray examination of the aquatic plant rigid hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) using DESY's X-ray source PETRA III. Even at comparatively low concentrations, the arsenic also floods the vacuole, a liquid-filled cavity which takes up most of the cell. The scientists report their findings in the Journal of Experimental Botany.

Analysis of genetic repeats suggests role for DNA instability in schizophrenia

An international research team has revealed extensive genetic variation in patients with schizophrenia. Significantly more copy number variations (CNVs) of genomic DNA were detected in patients than in controls. Patients also showed different disease severity, which appears associated with the CNVs' number and variable expressivity. These findings enabled the researchers to propose a genetic model of schizophrenia in which genomic instability underlies disease development.

Molecular scissors help evolutionary investigation

Scientists have detected an important mechanism in the evolution of plant genomes: using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model organism, they studied the formation of tandem repeat DNA sequences and found out that these sequences form if both DNA strands are broken at a significant distance from each other. For their experiments, the scientists used CRISPR/Cas system, working like a 'pair of molecular scissors.'

Chaining up to move a hefty meal

Researchers have documented the first known instance of insects moving prey by forming chains. In 2010, ant researchers spotted chains of bluish ants dragging a huge millipede in Phnom Kulen National Park, Cambodia. Each ant bit on a constriction on the abdomen of the ant ahead of it, while the first ant bit tight on the millipede's antenna. Walking backwards, the ants heaved the millipede away.

People with low birthweight due to genetic factors are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes

A genetically lowered birthweight increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, new research shows. Since low birthweight represents restricted intrauterine growth (fetal growth), it cannot be ruled out that it is in fact the risk factors for this restricted growth that are causing the low birthweight and in turn causing the type 2 diabetes to develop. Risk factors for restricted intrauterine growth include malnutrition, anemia, infections and placental insufficiency.

Scientists discover unsuspected bacterial link to bile duct cancer

Findings of a new study could open up possibilities for more targeted therapies for bile duct cancer. A research team discovered that bile duct tissue harboured a community of diverse bacteria species. Stenotrophomonas species -- previously implicated in bile duct infections -- were found to be preferentially dwelling in tumor tissue (compared to normal tissue) of non-fluke-infected Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients, highlighting their potential role in development of CCA.

New doubts on Zika as cause of microcephaly

Brazil's microcephaly epidemic continues to pose a mystery -- if Zika is the culprit, why are there no similar epidemics in other countries also hit hard by the virus? In Brazil, the microcephaly rate soared with more than 1,500 confirmed cases. But in Colombia, a recent study of nearly 12,000 pregnant women infected with Zika found zero microcephaly cases. If Zika is to blame for microcephaly, where are the missing cases?

Giant Blobs of Rock, Deep Inside the Earth, Hold Important Clues About Our Planet

Two massive blob-like structures lie deep within the Earth, roughly on opposite sides of the planet. The two structures, each the size of a continent and 100 times taller than Mount Everest, sit on the core, 1,800 miles deep, and about halfway to the center of the Earth. Researchers suggest these blobs are made of something different from the rest of Earth's mantle, and are determined to figure out what that is.

Hairs, feathers and scales have a lot in common

The potential evolutionary link between hairs in mammals, feathers in birds and scales in reptiles has been debated for decades. Today, researchers demonstrate that all these skin appendages are homologous. On the basis of analyses of embryonic development, the biologists evidenced molecular and micro-anatomical signatures that are identical between hairs, feathers and scales at their early developmental stages. These observations indicate that the three structures evolved from their common reptilian ancestor.

Aggressiveness of acute myeloid leukemia elucidated

Scientists have discovered why acute leukemias with the same genetic abnormality vary in their aggressiveness based on their cellular origin. They found that the cancer inducing alteration is particularly devastating if it occurs in early hematopoietic stem cells expressing certain genes involved in cell migration and tissue invasion. These findings should now make it possible to classify patients into more clearly defined groups, to adapt treatment, and hopefully also to develop personalized therapeutic strategies for the future.

Sparrows with unfaithful 'wives' care less for their young

Sparrows form pair bonds that are normally monogamous, but many females are unfaithful to their partner and have offspring with other males. Biologists believe that the male birds are unfaithful to ensure they father as many chicks as they can, while females are unfaithful with males of better 'genetic quality' -- ones that are fitter and could produce stronger offspring. But new research shows that cheating comes with a cost -- the cheating female's partner will provide less food for their nest of young.

Some older adults live well, despite advancing years and the burdens of chronic diseases

Researchers in a new study report that 'adapter' older adults who were more vigorous than expected, based on their disease burden, lived longer lives when compared to those who were more frail than expected based on their disease burden. These 'adapters' could have unique characteristics, perhaps some undefined coping mechanism, that should be studied further, suggested the researchers.

Sea star death triggers ecological domino effect

A new study by marine ecologists has discovered that a mass mortality of sea stars resulted in a domino effect on the B.C. West Coast's Howe Sound marine ecology. In the summer of 2013, millions of sea stars along the West Coast contracted a wasting disease and died in one of the largest wildlife mass mortality events ever recorded.

Precise control of brain circuit alters mood

By combining super-fine electrodes and tiny amounts of a very specific drug, researchers have singled out a circuit in mouse brains and taken control of it to dial an animal's mood up and down. Stress-susceptible animals that behaved as if they were depressed or anxious were restored to relatively normal behavior by tweaking the system, according to a study.

Novel study in Nairobi infants may accelerate path to HIV vaccine

The first and only study to look at isolate HIV-neutralizing antibodies from infants has found that novel antibodies that could protect against many variants of HIV can be produced relatively quickly after infection compared to adults. This suggests that various aspects of HIV-vaccine development, from design to administration, could be improved by mimicking infection and immune response in infants.

To tool or not to tool? Clever cockatoos make economic decisions about tool use

Cognitive biologists studied tool-related decisionmaking in an Indonesian cockatoo. They found that the animals seemed to carefully ponder about their choices: while doing so the animals scrutinized details such as differences in quality between the two food rewards, but also the functionality of the available tool as means to obtain the out-of reach food in the situation at hand.

Engineers develop new, low-cost way to capture carbon

A research team reports an unconventional reversible chemical reaction in a confined nanoenvironment. The discovery, a milestone in clarifying the scientific underpinnings of moisture-swing chemical reaction, is critical to understanding how to scrub carbon dioxide from Earth's atmosphere; the researchers have already used it to capture carbon dioxide more efficiently and at a much lower cost than other methods.

Eating air, making fuel

Is it possible to "reprogram" an organism that is found higher in the food chain, which consumes sugar and releases carbon dioxide, so that it will consume carbon dioxide from the environment and produce the sugars it needs to build its body mass? Scientists now report that they have engineered bacteria to create sugar from the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

Not only trauma but also the reversal of trauma is inherited

Behaviors caused by traumatic experiences in early life are reversible. Researchers could demonstrate that environmental enrichment allows trauma-related symptoms in mice to be reversed. This is the first evidence that positive environmental factors can correct behavioral alterations which would otherwise be transmitted to the offspring. The symptoms and their reversal are associated with epigenetic regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene.

New technique settles old debate on highest peaks in US Arctic

Finding out which is the highest mountain in the US Arctic may be the last thing on your mind, unless you are an explorer who skis from the tallest peaks around the globe. A ski mountaineer and a glaciologist aimed to settle a debate of more than 50 years, while testing a new, affordable mapping technique in a steep mountainous region.

Discovery of an epigenetic regulator of tumorigenesis suggests new strategies against lethal forms of breast cancer

Scientists have identified a previously unknown mechanism by which a protein called CBX8 promotes tumor growth in the most lethal forms of breast cancer. The study underscores the need for cancer researchers to pay more attention to 'epigenetic' factors, meaning chemical and biological processes that control gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence of the cells that are running amok.

Scientists streamline synthesis of potential cancer drug

A team of scientists has simplified the design and manufacture of a potent anti-tumor antibiotic known as uncialamycin. Uncialamycin is an enediyne, compounds defined by the presence of nine- and 10-member atomic rings in their structures. Two other enediynes, neocarzinostatin and calicheamicin, are or have been used as chemotherapy agents to treat leukemia and cancers of the liver and the brain.

A better way to predict diabetes

An international team of researchers has discovered a simple, accurate new way to predict which women with gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes after delivery. The discovery would allow health care providers to identify women at greatest risk and help motivate women to make early lifestyle changes and follow other strategies that could prevent them from developing the disease later in life.

Scientists find two ways to limit the number of heat-related deaths from climate change

By the 2080s, as many as 3,331 people could die every year from exposure to heat during the summer months in New York City. The high estimate is based on a new model -- the first to account for variability in future population size, greenhouse gas trajectories, and the extent to which residents adapt to heat through interventions like air conditioning and public cooling centers.

New study provides unprecedented insight into the fine details of neuronal communication

For communication between neurons to occur, an electrical impulse, called an action potential, must travel down an axon to its synaptic terminal. A major technical challenge impeding the direct examination of this process, axonal excitability, is the small diameter of a typical axon -- less than 500 nanometers. Researchers have now optimized optical and electrophysiological recordings from single neurons to study axonal excitability with unprecedented detail.

Running releases protein associated with improved memory in mice

The reason why treadmill training can boost memory recall remains an active area of investigation. A couple of proteins have been shown to fuel exercise-induced neuron growth, but a new study presents a new candidate, cathepsin B -- one that can be directly traced from the muscles to the brain in mice. Also, after a run, protein levels increased in blood in mice, monkeys, and humans.

Volcanoes get quiet before they erupt

Until now, there has not been a way to forecast eruptions of restless volcanoes because of the constant seismic activity and gas and steam emissions. Volcanologists have shown that periods of seismic quiet occur immediately before eruptions and can be used to forecast an eruption. The duration of the silence can indicate the level of energy that will be released. Longer quiet periods mean a bigger bang.

Aging monkeys become more selective regarding their social circle

As people get older, they become choosier about how they spend their time and with whom they spend it. Now, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on June 23 find, based on a series of experimental and behavioral studies, that similar changes take place in Barbary macaques. The findings offer an evolutionary perspective on why aging humans behave as they do, according to the researchers.

3D Brain-on-a-chip

To study brain cell’s operation and test the effect of medication on individual cells, the conventional Petri dish with flat electrodes is not sufficient. For truly realistic studies, cells have to flourish within three-dimensional surroundings. Researchers have developed a sieve with 900 openings, each of which has the shape of an inverted pyramid. On top of this array of pyramids, a micro-reactor takes care of cell growth.

Warning from the past: Future global warming could be even warmer

Future global warming will not only depend on the amount of emissions from human-made greenhouse gasses, but will also depend on the sensitivity of the climate system and response to feedback mechanisms. By reconstructing past global warming and the carbon cycle on Earth 56 million years ago researchers have used computer modelling to estimate the potential perspective for future global warming, which could be even warmer than previously thought.

Do you know what you're smoking? Research suggests that you don't

There is little awareness of the chemical components of cigarette smoke amongst US adults, even though many of them report having looked for relevant information. In a new study, researchers suggest that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expand its messaging activities so that information about these constituents reaches all segments of the US population, especially those most vulnerable to tobacco product use and its associated health risks.

Successful first observations of galactic center with GRAVITY

A European team of astronomers have used the new GRAVITY instrument at ESO's Very Large Telescope to obtain exciting observations of the center of the Milky Way by combining light from all four of the 8.2-meter Unit Telescopes for the first time. These results provide a taste of the groundbreaking science that GRAVITY will produce as it probes the extremely strong gravitational fields close to the central supermassive black hole and tests Einstein's general relativity.

New discoveries on evolution can save endangered species

Traditionally, the evolutionary development of an insect species has been explained by the notion that the female insect chooses her male partner based on size and other factors, so-called assortative mating. These mating patterns have also been believed to partially explain how the isolation between different species is maintained. However, new research shows just the opposite: assortative mating breaks down the sexual barrier between species rather than preserves it, which could lead to species becoming extinct.

World map of resistance to artemesinin anti-malarial medicines

Practically all currently available treatments for malaria are based in some form or other on a derivative of artemisinin, a plant substance that is found in the leaves and flowers of annual mugwort (Artemisia annua). However, more and more malaria parasites are becoming resistant to artemesinin – especially in South-East Asia. In order to provide an accurate view of the spread of resistance throughout the world, an international research group from more than 50 countries has drawn up a map of artemesinin resistance.

Maternal social status, sibling rivalry shape milk transfer in spotted hyenas

Females of low social status often have limited access to food resources. As a result, their offspring are nursed infrequently and may experience long fasting periods that can seriously compromise their growth and survival. In particular when they have to share their milk intake with a littermate, milk shortage can be very detrimental. Yet researchers found that low-ranking spotted hyenas were able to compensate to some extent for their low nursing frequency. They do this by transferring more milk of superior nutritional quality to their offspring than high-ranking mothers during nursing bouts. The results also reveal that the socially dominant offspring in twin litters efficiently uses aggression against its subordinate littermate to skew milk transfer in its favor.

Neutralizing acidic forest soils boosts tree growth, causes spike in nitrogen export

A legacy of acid rain has acidified forest soils throughout the northeastern US, lowering the growth rate of trees. In an attempt to mitigate this trend, in 1999 scientists added calcium to an experimental forest in New Hampshire. Tree growth recovered, but a decade later there was a major increase in the nitrogen content of stream water draining the site.

Diabetes raises risk of heart attack death by 50 percent

Having diabetes increases the risk of dying from the effects of a heart attack by around 50 percent, according to a widespread study. The study's participants with diabetes were 39 per cent more likely to have died if they had a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) heart attack -- in which the artery is partially blocked -- than those without diabetes.

Eliminating blood test may increase availability of donor hearts

A blood test that results in donor hearts being rejected may be unnecessary in predicting the success or failure of heart transplants. If transplant centers placed less emphasis on the test, more hearts would be available to treat patients with end-stage heart failure. Currently, only one in three donor hearts are accepted for transplant, say authors of a new report.

Impulsive children raised in caring families drink less during adolescence

Years of research have shown that impulsivity in childhood is among the individual vulnerabilities leading to substance abuse, delinquency, as well as aggressive and antisocial behavior in adolescence and adulthood. However, a new study shows that impulsive children who were raised in less coercive families at the age of 6 actually drank less alcohol than their less impulsive peers at the age of 15.

Scorpions have similar tastes in burrow architecture

New research on the burrows of scorpions in diverse environments finds that these predatory arachnids build strikingly similar architectural features in their homes. The study was conducted using molten aluminum casts and 3-D scanning, and suggests that common features of scorpion burrows are part of their 'extended physiology' and are vital to the arachnids' survival in some of the world's most inhospitable places.

Understanding how chemical changes in the brain affect Alzheimer's disease

A new study is helping to explain why the long-term use of common anticholinergic drugs used to treat conditions like allergies and overactive bladder lead to an increased risk of developing dementia later in life. The study used mouse models to show that long-term suppression of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine -- a target for anticholinergic drugs -- results in dementia-like changes in the brain.

Fish out of water are more common than thought

Fish have evolved the ability to live on land many times, challenging the perception that this extreme lifestyle shift was likely to have been a rare occurrence in ancient times. New research shows 33 different families of fish have at least one species that demonstrates some terrestrial activity and, in many cases, these behaviors are likely to have evolved independently in the different families.

Is 'when we eat' as important as 'what we eat'?

In a review of research on the effect of meal patterns on health, the few studies available suggest that eating irregularly is linked to a higher risk of metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and obesity). The limited evidence highlights the need for larger scale studies to better understand the impact of chrono-nutrition on public health, argue the authors of two new papers.

Hip implants: Metal wear impairs bone-forming cells' function

In metal-on-metal pairings, both the shell and head of an implant consist of a cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy, report researchers looking into the safety of hip implants. The release of metal ions into the body has been reported as a result of implant wear. Bone loss (osteolysis) was observed in many cases. Researchers have been able to show now that cobalt and chromium release contributes to bone loss.

Plastic debris and policy

Captain Charles Moore introduced the world to the 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' in the mid-1990s. Since then, there has been increasing interest from scientists, the public and policy makers regarding plastic debris in the environment. A new article now outlines the current research, identifies research gaps on plastic debris and reviews some of the weight of evidence regarding contamination, fate and effects of the material.

The universe: Learning about the future from the distant past

Our universe came to life nearly 14 billion years ago in the Big Bang -- a tremendously energetic fireball from which the cosmos has been expanding ever since. Today, space is filled with hundreds of billions of galaxies, including our solar system's own galactic home, the Milky Way. But how exactly did the infant universe develop into its current state, and what does it tell us about our future?

Rare moth in severe decline at its last English site

Numbers of a rare species of moth -- found only in York in England -- have tumbled in recent years, a team of scientists has discovered. The Dark Bordered Beauty (Epione vespertaria) is found on Strensall Common, an area of protected lowland heath near York. This is the last known English site for the moth, although there is a handful of populations in Scotland, where the moth is also rare.

Hey! You stole my food!: Abnormal eating behaviors in frontotemporal dementia

Frontotemporal dementia is associated with a wide variety of abnormal eating behaviors such as hyperphagia, fixations on one kind of food, even ingestion of inanimate objects, making an already difficult situation even worse. A new review gathers together the state of the art of what is known in this field, paying particular attention to the brain mechanisms involved. The information may be used for understanding eating disorders in healthy people.

How huanglongbing affects oranges' detachment force, fruit properties

Researchers evaluated the effects of huanglongbing (HLB) symptom severity on fruit detachment force and fruit mechanical properties in sweet oranges as indicators of potential HLB-influenced preharvest fruit drop and postharvest damage and breakdown. Analyses showed that fruits from severely HLB-symptomatic sweet orange trees are more likely to have problems with preharvest fruit drop and postharvest pressure damage and breakdown, but may have less puncture damage in harvesting, transportation, packing, and juice processing.

Absence of a single protein spurs muscle aging in mice

The loss of the protein Mitofusin 2 in the muscles of young mice speeds up aging and causes early sarcopenia, thus leading to the muscle quality of aged mice, report researchers. Sarcopenia, which is muscle wastage and the accompanied loss of strength, is one of the most weakening conditions of old age and it has no treatment. The scientists propose that stimulating Mitofusin 2 activity would provide a good strategy through which to ameliorate sarcopenia.

New targeted drug effectively dissolves blood clots, has fewer side effects

The main objective of emergency assistance in critical conditions associated with the blockage of blood vessels is to quickly dissolve the clot. To this end, scientists have developed a magnetically controlled drug that can be condensed on a blood clot by means of a magnetic field and can dissolve clots up to 4,000 times more efficiently than ordinary enzyme-based drugs. The new study will also help reduce drug dosage, thus avoiding numerous side effects.

Barrier screens reduce damage from brown marmorated stink bug

Barrier screens with different mesh sizes were evaluated for their ability to exclude the brown marmorated stink bug, provide entry to beneficial species, and produce high marketable yield in organically grown bell peppers. Fine-mesh plots were determined to effectively exclude insects and reduce stink bug injury on peppers. For areas with smaller stink bug populations, lighter colored, and/or wider meshes were recommended, while finer meshes were found appropriate for areas with higher stink bug pressure.

Bioplastic, biofabric tested for cucumber production

Trials in field and high tunnel cucumber cropping systems compared performance and decomposition (after use) among two bioplastic films and four experimental spunbond, nonwoven biofabrics. Results suggested that biofabrics would be most useful to growers when soil warming is not necessary (e.g., in warm climates), but when moisture conservation and weed control are critical. Permeable biofabrics may also be useful to growers who are dependent on sprinkler irrigation or rainfall to meet crop water demands.

Acoustics researcher finds explanation for auroral sounds

In 2012, a research group proved that the source of sounds associated with the Northern Lights is located close to the ground at an altitude of approximately 70 meters. Now, by combining his measurements with the temperature profiles measured by the Finnish Meteorological Institute, a researcher has found an explanation for the mechanism that creates the sound.  According to the new inversion layer hypothesis, the popping and crackling sounds associated with the Northern Lights are born when the related geomagnetic storm activates the charges that have accumulated in the atmosphere's inversion layer causing them to discharge. 

Opportunists with a home advantage

Preferred food, territories or mating opportunities - reasons for conflicts between neighboring groups are manifold in social living animals. Confrontations with conspecifics of neighboring groups are often hostile and members of the same group defend their territory cooperatively. However, common defense presents also a collective action problem: Not all group members participate in each conflict, but still enjoy the benefits of a joint territory. In order to examine which factors influence participation and outcome of intergroup encounters, behavioral scientists observed Verreaux’s sifakas in Madagascar. They showed that these primates seem to decide whether to join a given encounter opportunistically, based on individual incentives and the actual circumstances.