ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Solar-cell efficiency improved with new polymer devices
• Climate Change: Dwindling wind may tip predator-prey balance
• Domestic violence likely more frequent for same-sex couples
• Possible 6,800 new Ebola cases this month, research predicts
• Pathway that contributes to Alzheimer's disease revealed by research
• Fingertip sensor gives robot unprecedented dexterity
• Gene responsible for traits involved in diabetes discovered
• Soft robotics 'toolkit' features everything a robot-maker needs
• Reflected smartphone transmissions enable gesture control
• Hadrosaur with huge nose discovered: Function of dinosaur's unusual trait a mystery
• Simple test can help detect Alzheimer's before dementia signs show, study shows
• Graphene sensor tracks down cancer biomarkers
• Environmental pollutants make worms susceptible to cold
• Computers 1,000 times faster? Quick-change materials break silicon speed limit for computers
• An anomaly in satellites' flybys confounds scientists
• Seeding plant diversity for future generations
• Climate change report identifies 'the most vulnerable' sections of the population
• Obesity in Pacific islands 'a colonial legacy' of settlers trying to civilize the locals
• Superabsorbing ring could make light work of snaps, be ultimate camera pixel
• Sibling bullying linked to later depression, self-harm
• Shrink-wrapping spacesuits: Spacesuits of the future may resemble a streamlined second skin
• Mechanism behind solid-solid phase transitions uncovered
• Toward optical chips: Promising light source for optoelectronic chips can be tuned to different frequencies
• Brain uses three perceptual parameters to recognize 'gloss'
• Mitochondria's role in neurodegenerative diseases clearer thanks to mouse study
• MS drug candidate shows new promise
• Wireless sensor transmits tumor pressure
• Premature deaths could be reduced by 40% over next 20 years, researchers say
• Latest measurements from the AMS experiment unveil new territories in the flux of cosmic rays
• Milestone in chemical studies of superheavy elements: Superheavy element and carbon atom bonded for first time
• Smartgels, like gelatin, are thicker than water
• For legume plants, a new route from shoot to root
• Monster galaxies gain weight by eating smaller neighbors
• New biomedical implants heal bones faster, focus on personalized medicine
• Quorum-sensing signals control when bacteria turn deadly
• Cooling of dialysis fluids protects against brain damage
• Vitamin E, selenium supplements unlikely to affect age-related cataracts in men
• Research milestone in CCHF virus could help identify new treatments
• Research discovers means to free immune system to destroy cancer
• Curcumin, special peptides boost cancer-blocking PIAS3 to neutralize cancer-activating STAT3 in mesothelioma
• Down Syndrome helps researchers understand Alzheimer's disease
• Monitoring Ebola in wild great apes -- using poop

Solar-cell efficiency improved with new polymer devices Posted: 19 Sep 2014 11:28 AM PDT New light has been shed on solar power generation using devices made with polymers. Researchers identified a new polymer -- a type of large molecule that forms plastics and other familiar materials -- which improved the efficiency of solar cells. The group also determined the method by which the polymer improved the cells' efficiency. The polymer allowed electrical charges to move more easily throughout the cell, boosting the production of electricity -- a mechanism never before demonstrated in such devices.

Climate Change: Dwindling wind may tip predator-prey balance Posted: 19 Sep 2014 11:28 AM PDT Rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns may get the lion's share of our climate change attention, but predators may want to give some thought to wind, according to a zoologist's study, which is among the first to demonstrate the way "global stilling" may alter predator-prey relationships.

Domestic violence likely more frequent for same-sex couples Posted: 19 Sep 2014 11:08 AM PDT Domestic violence occurs at least as frequently, and likely even more so, between same-sex couples compared to opposite-sex couples, according to a new review of research. Abuse is underreported in same-sex couples due to the stigma of sexual orientation, researchers note.

Possible 6,800 new Ebola cases this month, research predicts Posted: 19 Sep 2014 11:08 AM PDT A possible 6,800 new Ebola cases this are predicted this month, as suggested by researchers who used modelling analysis to come up with their figures. The rate of new cases significantly increased in August in Liberia and Guinea, around the time that a mass quarantine was put in place, indicating that the mass quarantine efforts may have made the outbreak worse than it would have been otherwise.

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.

Fingertip sensor gives robot unprecedented dexterity Posted: 19 Sep 2014 09:22 AM PDT Researchers have equipped a robot with a novel tactile sensor that lets it grasp a USB cable draped freely over a hook and insert it into a USB port.

Gene responsible for traits involved in diabetes discovered Posted: 19 Sep 2014 09:22 AM PDT A new gene associated with fasting glucose and insulin levels in rats, mice and in humans, has been discovered by researchers. 29 million Americans have diabetes -- more than nine percent of the total population. It is the 7th leading cause of death, and experts estimate diabetes is an underreported cause of death because of the comorbidities and complications associated with the disease.

Soft robotics 'toolkit' features everything a robot-maker needs Posted: 19 Sep 2014 09:21 AM PDT A new resource provides both experienced and aspiring researchers with the intellectual raw materials needed to design, build, and operate robots made from soft, flexible materials. With the advent of low-cost 3-D printing, laser cutters, and other advances in manufacturing technology, soft robotics is emerging as an increasingly important field.

Reflected smartphone transmissions enable gesture control Posted: 19 Sep 2014 09:21 AM PDT Engineers have developed a new form of low-power wireless sensing technology that lets users "train" their smartphones to recognize and respond to specific hand gestures near the phone.

Hadrosaur with huge nose discovered: Function of dinosaur's unusual trait a mystery Posted: 19 Sep 2014 08:06 AM PDT Call it the Jimmy Durante of dinosaurs -- a newly discovered hadrosaur with a truly distinctive nasal profile. The new dinosaur, named Rhinorex condrupus by paleontologists, lived in what is now Utah approximately 75 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period.

Simple test can help detect Alzheimer's before dementia signs show, study shows Posted: 19 Sep 2014 08:06 AM PDT A simple test that combines thinking and movement can help to detect heightened risk for developing Alzheimer's disease in a person, even before there are any telltale behavioural signs of dementia, researchers report, adding that the findings don't predict who will develop Alzheimer's disease, but they do show there is something different in the brains of those who go on to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Graphene sensor tracks down cancer biomarkers Posted: 19 Sep 2014 08:06 AM PDT An ultrasensitive biosensor made from the wonder material graphene has been used to detect molecules that indicate an increased risk of developing cancer. The biosensor has been shown to be more than five times more sensitive than bioassay tests currently in use, and was able to provide results in a matter of minutes, opening up the possibility of a rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tool for patients.

Environmental pollutants make worms susceptible to cold Posted: 19 Sep 2014 08:06 AM PDT Some pollutants are more harmful in a cold climate than in a hot, because they affect the temperature sensitivity of certain organisms. Now researchers have demonstrated how this happens, and it can help us better predict contamination risks, especially in the Arctic.

Computers 1,000 times faster? Quick-change materials break silicon speed limit for computers Posted: 19 Sep 2014 08:06 AM PDT Faster, smaller, greener computers, capable of processing information up to 1,000 times faster than currently available models, could be made possible by replacing silicon with materials that can switch back and forth between different electrical states.

An anomaly in satellites' flybys confounds scientists Posted: 19 Sep 2014 08:05 AM PDT When space probes, such as Rosetta and Cassini, fly over certain planets and moons, in order to gain momentum and travel long distances, their speed changes slightly for an unknown reason. A researcher has now analyzed whether or not a hypothetical gravitomagnetic field could have an influence. However, other factors such as solar radiation, tides, or even relativistic effects or dark matter could be behind this mystery.

Seeding plant diversity for future generations Posted: 19 Sep 2014 07:34 AM PDT Researchers have constructed a 'hit list' of the plant species most needed to boost the overall diversity of the Millennium Seed Bank, which is storing seeds in its vaults for future generations.

Climate change report identifies 'the most vulnerable' sections of the population Posted: 19 Sep 2014 07:18 AM PDT A report has looked at which sections of the population are left most exposed to food shortages after extreme weather events. Extreme weather events leave populations with not enough food both in the short- and the long-term.

Obesity in Pacific islands 'a colonial legacy' of settlers trying to civilize the locals Posted: 19 Sep 2014 07:14 AM PDT Scientists have known for some time that Pacific islanders are more prone to obesity than people in other nations. Now a new study has examined why islanders on Nauru and in the Cook Islands in the Pacific have the highest levels and fastest rates of obesity increase in the world. On both the islands, between 1980 and 2008 the increase in the average body mass index was four times higher than the global average.

Superabsorbing ring could make light work of snaps, be ultimate camera pixel Posted: 19 Sep 2014 07:08 AM PDT A quantum effect in which excited atoms team up to emit an enhanced pulse of light can be turned on its head to create 'superabsorbing' systems that could make the 'ultimate camera pixel'.

Sibling bullying linked to later depression, self-harm Posted: 19 Sep 2014 07:02 AM PDT A new study has found that children who revealed they had been bullied by their brothers or sisters several times a week or more during early adolescence were twice as likely to report being clinically depressed as young adults.

Shrink-wrapping spacesuits: Spacesuits of the future may resemble a streamlined second skin Posted: 19 Sep 2014 06:48 AM PDT For future astronauts, the process of suiting up may go something like this: Instead of climbing into a conventional, bulky, gas-pressurized suit, an astronaut may don a lightweight, stretchy garment, lined with tiny, musclelike coils. She would then plug in to a spacecraft's power supply, triggering the coils to contract and essentially shrink-wrap the garment around her body.

Mechanism behind solid-solid phase transitions uncovered Posted: 19 Sep 2014 06:32 AM PDT Two solids made of the same elements but with different geometric arrangements of the atoms, or crystal phases, can produce materials with different properties. Coal and diamond offer a spectacular example of this effect. Researchers have found that some crystals have an easier time of making a solid-solid transition if they take it in two steps. Surprisingly, the first step of the process involves the parent phase producing droplets of liquid. The liquid droplets then evolve into the daughter phase.

Toward optical chips: Promising light source for optoelectronic chips can be tuned to different frequencies Posted: 19 Sep 2014 06:32 AM PDT Chips that use light, rather than electricity, to move data would consume much less power -- and energy efficiency is a growing concern as chips' transistor counts rise. Scientists have developed a new technique for building MoS2 light emitters tuned to different frequencies, an essential requirement for optoelectronic chips. Since thin films of material can also be patterned onto sheets of plastic, the same work could point toward thin, flexible, bright, color displays.

Brain uses three perceptual parameters to recognize 'gloss' Posted: 19 Sep 2014 06:32 AM PDT The brain uses three perceptual parameters, the contrast-of-highlight, sharpness-of-highlight, or brightness of the object, as parameters when the brain recognizes a variety of glosses, researchers have discovered. They also found that different parameters are represented by different populations of neurons.

Mitochondria's role in neurodegenerative diseases clearer thanks to mouse study Posted: 19 Sep 2014 06:27 AM PDT A new study sheds light on a longstanding question about the role of mitochondria in debilitating and fatal motor neuron diseases and resulted in a new mouse model to study such illnesses. Mitochondria are organelles -- compartments contained inside cells -- that serve several functions, including making ATP, a nucleotide that cells convert into chemical energy to stay alive. For this reason mitochondria often are called "cellular power plants."

MS drug candidate shows new promise Posted: 19 Sep 2014 06:27 AM PDT Positive new data have been released on a drug candidate, RPC1063, for relapsing multiple sclerosis. According to the results from a six-month Phase 2 study of 258 multiple sclerosis patients, the drug candidate reduced the annualized relapse rate of participants with multiple sclerosis by up to 53 percent, compared with placebo. The potential therapy also decreased the emergence of new brain damage seen by MRI by more than 90 percent.

Wireless sensor transmits tumor pressure Posted: 19 Sep 2014 06:27 AM PDT A novel sensor that can wirelessly relay pressure readings from inside a tumor has been developed by researchers. The interstitial pressure inside a tumor is often remarkably high compared to normal tissues and is thought to impede the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents as well as decrease the effectiveness of radiation therapy. While medications exist that temporarily decrease tumor pressure, identifying the optimal window to initiate treatment -- when tumor pressure is lowest -- has remained a challenge.

Premature deaths could be reduced by 40% over next 20 years, researchers say Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:39 AM PDT With sustained international efforts, the number of premature deaths could be reduced by 40% over the next two decades (2010-2030), researchers say, halving under–50 mortality and preventing a third of the deaths at ages 50–69 years.

Latest measurements from the AMS experiment unveil new territories in the flux of cosmic rays Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:38 AM PDT The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer collaboration has just presented its latest results. These are based on the analysis of 41 billion particles detected with the space-based AMS detector aboard the International Space Station. The results provide new insights into the nature of the mysterious excess of positrons observed in the flux of cosmic rays.

Milestone in chemical studies of superheavy elements: Superheavy element and carbon atom bonded for first time Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:38 AM PDT A chemical bond between a superheavy element and a carbon atom has been established for the first time. This research opens new vistas for studying the effects of Einstein's relativity on the structure of the periodic table.

Smartgels, like gelatin, are thicker than water Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:38 AM PDT Transforming substances from liquids into gels plays an important role across many industries, including cosmetics, medicine, and energy. But the transformation process, called gelation, where manufacturers add chemical thickeners and either heat or cool the fluids to make them more viscous or elastic, is expensive and energy demanding. Take shampoo, for example. Without gelation, the contents of the shampoo bottle would be thin and watery. Instead of squirting a gooey dollop into the palm of your hand, the shampoo would rush between your fingers and escape down the drain before you could slather it on your head.

For legume plants, a new route from shoot to root Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:38 AM PDT Legume plants regulate their symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria by using cytokinins—signaling molecules that are transmitted through the plant structure from leaves into the roots to control the number of bacteria-holding nodules in the roots. Legumes, an important plant family which includes lentils, soybeans, and peanuts, have the ability to prosper in nitrogen-poor soil environments thanks to an ingenious adaptation: they develop a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, allowing the bacteria to infect them within special structures known as nodules that are located along their roots.

Monster galaxies gain weight by eating smaller neighbors Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:38 AM PDT Massive galaxies in the universe have stopped making their own stars and are instead snacking on nearby galaxies. Astronomers looked at more than 22,000 galaxies and found that while smaller galaxies are very efficient at creating stars from gas, the most massive galaxies are much less efficient at star formation, producing hardly any new stars themselves, and instead grow by 'eating' other galaxies.

New biomedical implants heal bones faster, focus on personalized medicine Posted: 18 Sep 2014 06:34 PM PDT A major success in developing new biomedical implants with the ability to accelerate bone healing has been reported by a group of scientists, which suggests a move toward a future of personalized products. "It is very much like your taste in music and TV shows. People are different and the new trend in biotechnology is to make personalized medicine that matches the patient's needs," he says. "With regard to implants, we have the problem of variations in bone density in patients with osteoporosis and in some cases, even healthy individuals."

Quorum-sensing signals control when bacteria turn deadly Posted: 18 Sep 2014 05:59 PM PDT No matter how many times it's demonstrated, it's still hard to envision bacteria as social, communicating creatures. But by using a signaling system called "quorum sensing," these single-celled organisms radically alter their behavior to suit their population. Chemists now report that they have been making artificial compounds that mimic the natural quorum-sensing signals.

Cooling of dialysis fluids protects against brain damage Posted: 18 Sep 2014 05:59 PM PDT Dialysis drives progressive white matter brain injury due to blood pressure instability, however, patients who dialyzed at 0.5 degrees Celcius below body temperature were completely protected against such white matter changes, a study shows.

Vitamin E, selenium supplements unlikely to affect age-related cataracts in men Posted: 18 Sep 2014 01:23 PM PDT Taking daily supplements of selenium or vitamin E appears to have no significant effect on the development of age-related cataracts in men. Some research, including animal studies, has suggested that dietary nutrients can have an effect on the onset and progression of cataracts. Vitamin E and selenium are of particular interest.

Research milestone in CCHF virus could help identify new treatments Posted: 18 Sep 2014 01:22 PM PDT New research into the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), a tick-borne virus which causes a severe hemorrhagic disease in humans similar to that caused by Ebolavirus, has identified new cellular factors essential for CCHFV infection. This discovery has the potential to lead to novel targets for therapeutic interventions against the pathogen.

Research discovers means to free immune system to destroy cancer Posted: 18 Sep 2014 12:09 PM PDT The crucial role an inflammatory protein known as Chop plays in the body's ability to fight cancer. Results demonstrate, for the first time, that Chop regulates the activity and accumulation of cells that suppress immune response against tumors. With Chop removed, the T-cells of the immune system mounted an effective attack on the cancer cells, revealing a new target for the development of immunotherapies to treat cancer.

Curcumin, special peptides boost cancer-blocking PIAS3 to neutralize cancer-activating STAT3 in mesothelioma Posted: 18 Sep 2014 12:08 PM PDT A common Asian spice and cancer-hampering molecules show promise in slowing mesothelioma, cancer of the lung lining linked to asbestos. Scientists demonstrate curcumin and cancer-inhibiting peptides increase a protein inhibitor that slows mesothelioma.

Down Syndrome helps researchers understand Alzheimer's disease Posted: 18 Sep 2014 12:08 PM PDT The link between a protein typically associated with Alzheimer's disease and its impact on memory and cognition may not be as clear as once thought, according to a new study. Researchers looked at the role of the brain protein amyloid-beta in adults living with Down syndrome, a genetic condition that leaves people more susceptible to developing Alzheimer's.

Monitoring Ebola in wild great apes -- using poop Posted: 18 Sep 2014 12:08 PM PDT A group of international scientists has developed a new method to study Ebola virus in wildlife. The new methodology exploits the fact that, like humans, apes surviving viral infections develop antibodies against them. Typically, those antibodies are measured in the blood. The scientists, however, developed a laboratory technique that can isolate antibodies from ape feces.

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