ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Paleontologists discover new fossil organism
• Citrus greening affects roots before leaves
• Longevity gene may boost brain power: Researchers discover the gene may enhance cognitive abilities
• Making it big: Metamaterial applications a step closer to reality
• The promise of purple for enhanced bioimaging
• The direct approach to microcavities
• Intestinal enzyme maintains microbial balance: Study shows how
• Epigenetic mechanisms distinguishing stem cell function, blood cancer decoded
• Can plants provide petroleum-derived chemicals?
• New species of metal-eating plant discovered in the Philippines
• Role of middle predators in reef systems: Marine research on oyster reefs
• Rotational X-ray tracking uncovers hidden motion at the nanoscale
• Coyote predation on deer in Eastern U.S. manageable, research suggests
• Colonization of Brazil by the cattle egret
• Sneaking drugs into cancer cells before triggering release
• How proteins acquire correct structure: Molecular high-speed origami
• Link between insecticides and collapse of honey bee colonies strengthened
• New ways for understanding the link between the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and species diversity
• Tracking the Source of 'Selective Attention' Problems in Brain-Injured Vets
• Aircraft noise in U.S. national parks
• Athletes respond better to female psychologists
• Experiencing letters as colors: New insights into synesthesia
• Life on cheese: Scientists explore the cheese rind microbiome
• Back to the future to determine if sea level rise is accelerating
• Love makes you strong: Romantic relationships help neurotic people stabilize their personality
• Hurricanes Katrina, Rita may have caused up to half of recorded stillbirths in worst hit areas
• From age 30 onwards, inactivity has greatest impact on women's lifetime heart disease risk
• Lethal parasite evolved from pond scum
• Mitochondrial deficits in children with autism confirmed
• Chemotherapy timing is key to success, research shows
• Exact outline of melanoma could lead to new diagnostic tools, therapies
• Mummy-making wasps discovered in Ecuador

Paleontologists discover new fossil organism Posted: 09 May 2014 02:29 PM PDT Paleontologists have discovered a fossil of a newly discovered organism from the Ediacara Biota. Plexus ricei was a broadly curving tube that resided on the seafloor. Individuals range in size from 5 to 80 cm long and 5 to 20 mm wide, and comprise a rigid median tubular structure and a fragile outer tubular wall. Plexus ricei evolved around 575 million years ago, disappearing from the fossil record around 540 million years ago.

Citrus greening affects roots before leaves Posted: 09 May 2014 02:25 PM PDT Although citrus greening enters trees through their leaves, researchers have discovered that the deadly disease attacks roots long before the leaves show signs of damage -- a finding that may help growers better care for trees while scientists work to find a cure.

Longevity gene may boost brain power: Researchers discover the gene may enhance cognitive abilities Posted: 09 May 2014 12:08 PM PDT Scientists showed that people who have a variant of a longevity gene, called KLOTHO, have improved brain skills such as thinking, learning and memory regardless of their age, sex, or whether they have a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Increasing KLOTHO gene levels in mice made them smarter, possibly by increasing the strength of connections between nerve cells in the brain.

Making it big: Metamaterial applications a step closer to reality Posted: 09 May 2014 10:16 AM PDT The use of a fabrication technique borrowed from the semiconductor industry brings metamaterial applications a step closer to reality. Artificial materials engineered to have properties not found in nature, such as a negative refractive index are engineered to interact with light and sound waves in ways that natural materials cannot. They thus have the potential to be used in exciting new applications, such as invisibility cloaks, high-resolution lenses, efficient and compact antennas, and highly sensitive sensors.

The promise of purple for enhanced bioimaging Posted: 09 May 2014 10:16 AM PDT Newly detected 'energy-clustering' structures inside rare-earth nanoparticles generate intense violet light, which is ideal for studying photon-induced transformations. Labeling biomolecules with light-emitting nanoparticles is a powerful technique for observing cell movement and signaling under realistic, in vivo conditions. The small size of these probes, however, often limits their optical capabilities. In particular, many nanoparticles have trouble producing high-energy light with wavelengths in the violet to ultraviolet range, which can trigger critical biological reactions.

The direct approach to microcavities Posted: 09 May 2014 10:16 AM PDT A robust micrometer-scale structure for trapping light enhances optical interactions in advanced photonic devices. Trapping light into a small volume is a useful way of amplifying optical effects. Optical cavities, for example, can enhance the interaction between light and matter. Incorporating these tiny structures into actual devices is difficult however, because they are easily broken or can become optically misaligned.

Intestinal enzyme maintains microbial balance: Study shows how Posted: 09 May 2014 10:00 AM PDT The mechanism by which an enzyme produced in the intestinal lining helps to maintain a healthy population of gastrointestinal microbes has been identified by researchers. The research team describes finding that intestinal alkaline phosphatase promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria by blocking the growth-inhibiting action of adenosine triphosphate -- an action first described in this paper -- within the intestine.

Epigenetic mechanisms distinguishing stem cell function, blood cancer decoded Posted: 09 May 2014 10:00 AM PDT A new mechanism that distinguishes normal blood stem cells from blood cancers has been developed by researchers. "These findings constitute a significant advance toward the goal of killing leukemia cells without harming the body's normal blood stem cells which are often damaged by chemotherapy," said a principle investigator.

Can plants provide petroleum-derived chemicals? Posted: 09 May 2014 10:00 AM PDT Plant scientists find fatty acid desaturating enzymes link up to pass intermediate products from one enzyme to another. Getting plants to accumulate high levels of more healthful polyunsaturated fatty acids, or unusual fatty acids that could be used as raw materials in place of petroleum-derived chemicals in industrial processes, are a few possible outcomes.

New species of metal-eating plant discovered in the Philippines Posted: 09 May 2014 10:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new plant species with an unusual lifestyle -- it eats nickel for a living -- accumulating up to 18,000 ppm of the metal in its leaves without itself being poisoned, says the lead author of a new report. Such an amount is a hundred to a thousand times higher than in most other plants.

Role of middle predators in reef systems: Marine research on oyster reefs Posted: 09 May 2014 08:07 AM PDT The behavior of the 'middle child' in the predator-prey food chain plays a strong role in deter­mining how the reef as a whole will fare, new marine science research shows. Research with oyster reefs complicates the evolution of a long-held ecology paradigm, namely that the species at the top of the food web dic­tate the wel­fare of the entire system simply by eating.

Rotational X-ray tracking uncovers hidden motion at the nanoscale Posted: 09 May 2014 08:07 AM PDT Over the past two decades or so, there has been increasing interest and development in measuring slow dynamics in disordered systems at the nanoscale, brought about in part from a demand for advancements in the food and consumer products industries.

Coyote predation on deer in Eastern U.S. manageable, research suggests Posted: 09 May 2014 08:07 AM PDT Coyotes are a major predator of white-tailed deer across the East, especially fawns born each spring, but wildlife managers nonetheless are able to stabilize and even grow deer herds, according to researchers. Coyotes -- Canis latrans -- are a relatively recent arrival to eastern North America, appearing first in the region in noticeable numbers in the 1970s. They are a significant source of deer mortality and most often prey on whitetails in the earliest months of their lives. Coyotes have long inhabited the American West.

Colonization of Brazil by the cattle egret Posted: 09 May 2014 08:07 AM PDT A new study of the colonization patterns of the cattle egret in Brazil offers a new take on the study of alien species. It aims to present how the invasive species colonized this great new area, to compare the Brazilian population genetic composition to the native species in Africa and to detect genetic signs of demographic expansion in these two areas.

Sneaking drugs into cancer cells before triggering release Posted: 09 May 2014 08:07 AM PDT Biomedical engineering researchers have developed an anti-cancer drug delivery method that essentially smuggles the drug into a cancer cell before triggering its release. The method can be likened to keeping a cancer-killing bomb and its detonator separate until they are inside a cancer cell, where they then combine to destroy the cell.

How proteins acquire correct structure: Molecular high-speed origami Posted: 09 May 2014 08:07 AM PDT Proteins are responsible for nearly every essential process of life. Their form and structure are of crucial importance for their functionality. Scientists have recently discovered an unknown sequence of reactions which is necessary for newly generated proteins to acquire their correct structure.

Link between insecticides and collapse of honey bee colonies strengthened Posted: 09 May 2014 08:07 AM PDT Two widely used neonicotinoids -- a class of insecticide -- appear to significantly harm honey bee colonies over the winter, particularly during colder winters, according to researchers. The study replicated a 2012 finding from the same research group that found a link between imidacloprid and Colony Collapse Disorder, in which bees abandon their hives over the winter and eventually die. The new study found low doses of a second neonicotinoid, clothianidin, had the same negative effect.

New ways for understanding the link between the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and species diversity Posted: 09 May 2014 08:03 AM PDT Scientists have summarized the current state of knowledge on the diversification of Tibetan plants and animals. The study focuses in particular on how the geological processes that led to the rise of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas affected diversification and speciation directly, and indirectly, e.g. by changing climatic conditions.

Tracking the Source of 'Selective Attention' Problems in Brain-Injured Vets Posted: 09 May 2014 08:01 AM PDT The obvious cognitive symptoms of minor traumatic brain injury can dissipate within a few days, but blast-exposed veterans may continue to have problems focusing attention on one sound source and ignoring others, an ability known as "selective auditory attention." According to a new study, such apparent "hearing" problems actually may be caused by diffuse injury to the brain's prefrontal lobe.

Aircraft noise in U.S. national parks Posted: 09 May 2014 08:00 AM PDT Visitors to the country's National Parks may be seeking tranquil communion with nature, but what they sometimes encounter is the noise of airplanes and helicopter tours. Researchers have assessed potential effects of such flights on the experience of park visitors.

Athletes respond better to female psychologists Posted: 09 May 2014 04:42 AM PDT When listening to the voices of a sport psychologist, both male and female athletes rate women psychologists more positively than male ones. "These findings challenge the historically prevalent view that male psychologists are more successful and show that gender equality has made progress in sport," said the researcher.

Experiencing letters as colors: New insights into synesthesia Posted: 09 May 2014 04:41 AM PDT Scientists studying the bizarre phenomenon of synasthesia – best described as a "union of the senses" whereby two or more of the five senses that are normally experienced separately are involuntarily and automatically joined together – have made a new breakthrough in their attempts to understand the condition.

Life on cheese: Scientists explore the cheese rind microbiome Posted: 09 May 2014 04:41 AM PDT The rind is the boundary layer between a cheese and its environment. It hosts a variety of microorganisms that comprise the microbiome: a symbiotic community whose members perform different tasks. Some break down proteins and fats on the rind, for example, creating volatile sulphur and ammonia compounds that are responsible for the intensive odour of some types of cheese.

Back to the future to determine if sea level rise is accelerating Posted: 09 May 2014 04:41 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new method for revealing how sea levels might rise around the world throughout the 21st century to address the controversial topic of whether the rate of sea level rise is currently increasing. Scientists analyszd data from 10 long-term sea level monitoring stations located around the world.

Love makes you strong: Romantic relationships help neurotic people stabilize their personality Posted: 09 May 2014 04:41 AM PDT It is springtime and they are everywhere: Newly enamored couples walking through the city hand in hand, floating on cloud nine. Yet a few weeks later the initial rush of romance will have dissolved and the world will not appear as rosy anymore. Nevertheless, love and romance have long lasting effects.

Hurricanes Katrina, Rita may have caused up to half of recorded stillbirths in worst hit areas Posted: 08 May 2014 04:25 PM PDT Hurricanes Katrina and Rita may have been responsible for up to half of all recorded stillbirths in the worst hit areas, suggests research. Calculations indicate that the risk of a pregnancy ending in a stillbirth was 40% higher in parishes where 10-50% of housing stock had been damaged, and more than twice as high in areas where over 50% of the housing stock had taken a hit. After taking account of known risk factors, every 1% increase in the extent of damage to housing stock was associated with a corresponding 7% rise in the number of stillbirths.

From age 30 onwards, inactivity has greatest impact on women's lifetime heart disease risk Posted: 08 May 2014 04:25 PM PDT From the age of 30 onwards, physical inactivity exerts a greater impact on a woman's lifetime risk of developing heart disease than the other well-known risk factors, suggests research. This includes overweight, the finding show, prompting the researchers to suggest that greater effort needs to be made to promote exercise.

Lethal parasite evolved from pond scum Posted: 08 May 2014 02:23 PM PDT A genomic investigation has revealed that a lethal parasite infecting a wide range of insects actually originated from pond scum, but has completely shed its green past on its evolutionary journey. The research team sequenced the genome of Helicosporidium -- an intracellular parasite that can kill juvenile blackflies, caterpillars, beetles and mosquitoes -- and found it evolved from algae like another notorious pathogen: malaria.

Mitochondrial deficits in children with autism confirmed Posted: 08 May 2014 02:23 PM PDT Children with autism experience deficits in a type of immune cell that protects the body from infection. Called granulocytes, the cells exhibit one-third the capacity to fight infection and protect the body from invasion compared with the same cells in children who are developing normally. The cells, which circulate in the bloodstream, are less able to deliver crucial infection-fighting oxidative responses to combat invading pathogens because of dysfunction in their tiny energy-generating organelles, the mitochondria.

Chemotherapy timing is key to success, research shows Posted: 08 May 2014 02:22 PM PDT Nanoparticles that stagger delivery of two drugs knock out aggressive tumors, new research shows. In studies with mice, the research team showed that this one-two punch, which relies on a nanoparticle that carries two drugs and releases them at different times, dramatically shrinks lung and breast tumors. "With a nanoparticle delivery platform that allows us to control the relative rates of release and the relative amounts of loading, we can put [two] systems together in a smart way that allows them to be as effective as possible," one researcher explains.

Exact outline of melanoma could lead to new diagnostic tools, therapies Posted: 08 May 2014 02:22 PM PDT A specific biochemical process that can cause normal and healthy skin cells to transform into cancerous melanoma cells has been found by researchers, which should help predict melanoma vulnerability and could also lead to future therapies. They discovered in this situation that the immune system is getting thrown into reverse, helping to cause cancer instead of preventing it.

Mummy-making wasps discovered in Ecuador Posted: 08 May 2014 08:10 AM PDT Field work in the cloud forests of Ecuador has resulted in the discovery of 24 new species of Aleiodes wasps that mummify caterpillars. Among the 24 new insect species described by Shimbori and Shaw, several were named after famous people including the comedians and television hosts Jimmy Fallon, John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Ellen DeGeneres, as well as the Ecuadorian artist Eduardo Kingman, American poet Robert Frost, and Colombian singer and musician, Shakira.

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