ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

---

• New analysis of human genetic history reveals female dominance
• Solar energy-driven process could revolutionize oil sands tailings reclamation
• Multi-function protein is key to stopping genomic parasites from 'jumping'
• Artificial intelligence that imitates children’s learning
• Engineered proteins stick like glue -- even in water
• A breakthrough in electron microscopy: Scientists reconstruct third dimension from a single image
• Pathway that contributes to Alzheimer's disease revealed by research
• New insights on an ancient plague could improve treatments for infections

New analysis of human genetic history reveals female dominance Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT Female populations have been larger than male populations throughout human history, according to new research. The research used a new technique to obtain higher quality paternal genetic information to analyze the demographic history of males and females in worldwide populations.

Solar energy-driven process could revolutionize oil sands tailings reclamation Posted: 23 Sep 2014 03:21 PM PDT A civil engineering research team has developed a new way to clean oil sands process affected water and reclaim tailings ponds in Alberta's oil sands industry. Using sunlight as a renewable energy source instead of UV lamps, and adding chlorine to the tailings, oil sands process affected water is decontaminated and detoxified -- immediately.

Multi-function protein is key to stopping genomic parasites from 'jumping' Posted: 23 Sep 2014 06:02 AM PDT Most organisms, including humans, have parasitic DNA fragments called 'jumping genes' that insert themselves into DNA molecules, disrupting genetic instructions in the process. And that phenomenon can result in age-related diseases such as cancer. But researchers now report that the 'jumping genes' in mice become active as the mice age when a multi-function protein stops keeping them in check in order to take on another role.

Artificial intelligence that imitates children’s learning Posted: 23 Sep 2014 05:59 AM PDT The computer programs used in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) are highly specialized. They can for example fly airplanes, play chess or assemble cars in controlled industrial environments. Scientists have now created an AI program that can learn how to solve problems in many different areas. The program is designed to imitate certain aspects of children's cognitive development.

Engineered proteins stick like glue -- even in water Posted: 21 Sep 2014 11:51 AM PDT Researchers have found new adhesives based on mussel proteins could be useful for naval or medical applications. To create their new waterproof adhesives, researchers engineered bacteria to produce a hybrid material that incorporates naturally sticky mussel proteins as well as a bacterial protein found in biofilms -- slimy layers formed by bacteria growing on a surface. When combined, these proteins form even stronger underwater adhesives than those secreted by mussels.

A breakthrough in electron microscopy: Scientists reconstruct third dimension from a single image Posted: 21 Sep 2014 11:50 AM PDT Imagine that you want to find out from a single picture taken of the front of a house, what the building looks like from behind, whether it has any extensions or if the brickwork is damaged, and how many rooms are in the basement. Sounds impossible? Not in the nanoworld. Scientists have developed a new method with which crystal structures can be reconstructed with atomic precision in all three dimensions.

Pathway that contributes to Alzheimer's disease revealed by research Posted: 19 Sep 2014 11:07 AM PDT A defect in a key cell-signaling pathway has been discovered that researchers say contributes to both overproduction of toxic protein in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients as well as loss of communication between neurons — both significant contributors to this type of dementia.

New insights on an ancient plague could improve treatments for infections Posted: 18 Sep 2014 12:08 PM PDT Dangerous new pathogens such as the Ebola virus invoke scary scenarios of deadly epidemics, but even ancient scourges such as the bubonic plague are still providing researchers with new insights on how the body responds to infections.

You are subscribed to email updates from Most Popular News -- ScienceDaily To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610