Loading...
ScienceDaily: Most Popular News |
Treated superalloys demonstrate unprecedented heat resistance Posted: 16 Nov 2018 01:45 PM PST Researchers have discovered how to make 'superalloys' even more super, extending useful life by thousands of hours. The discovery could improve materials performance for electrical generators and nuclear reactors. |
Newborn babies' brain responses to being touched on the face measured for the first time Posted: 16 Nov 2018 01:45 PM PST A newborn baby's brain responds to being touched on the face, according to new research. Babies use this sense of touch -- facial somatosensation -- to find and latch onto their mother's nipple, and should have this ability from birth. Premature babies often have difficulty feeding, and underdevelopment of their facial sensitivity may be one of the main causes. |
Color coded: Matching taste with color Posted: 16 Nov 2018 01:45 PM PST Color can impact the taste of food, and our experiences and expectations can affect how we taste food, according to Penn State researchers, who suggest this may have implications for how food and beverage industries should market their products. |
Dodging antibiotic resistance by curbing bacterial evolution Posted: 16 Nov 2018 01:45 PM PST Lowering mutation rates in harmful bacteria might be an as yet untried way to hinder the emergence of antimicrobial pathogens. One target for drug development might be a protein factor, DNA translocase Mfd, that enables bacteria to evolve rapidly by promoting mutations in many different bacterial species. This action speeds antibiotic resistance, including multi-drug resistance. Working on drugs to block Mfd and similar factors could be a revolutionary strategy to address the worldwide crisis of treatment-resistant infectious diseases. |
A new lead on a 50-year-old radiation damage mystery Posted: 16 Nov 2018 01:45 PM PST For half a century, researchers have seen loops of displaced atoms appearing inside nuclear reactor steel after exposure to radiation, but no one could work out how. |
From the ashes of a failed pain drug, a new therapeutic path emerges Posted: 16 Nov 2018 01:45 PM PST A surprising discovery about a failed pain drug -- and specifically, the pathway it targets, BH4 -- could have implications for autoimmunity and cancer. Neuroscientists report that BH4 also functions as a kind of immunological thermostat, raising and lowering the activity levels of T cells. Inhibiting BH4 could relieve atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, lupus, polyarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease; boosting it could help the immune system attack cancers. |
Overflowing crater lakes carved canyons across Mars Posted: 16 Nov 2018 01:45 PM PST Today, most of the water on Mars is locked away in frozen ice caps. But billions of years ago it flowed freely across the surface, forming rushing rivers that emptied into craters, forming lakes and seas. New research has found evidence that sometimes the lakes would take on so much water that they overflowed and burst from the sides of their basins, creating catastrophic floods that carved canyons very rapidly, perhaps in a matter of weeks. |
Majority of HIV persistence during ART due to infected cell proliferation Posted: 16 Nov 2018 01:45 PM PST Study confirms biological mechanism responsible for latent HIV reservoirs; suggests strategies for a functional HIV cure. |
Communal rearing gives mice a competitive edge Posted: 16 Nov 2018 11:00 AM PST Scientists suggest that being raised communally makes mice more competitive when they're older. It is well known that in many animals, including humans, early-life experiences have long-lasting effects on the development of behaviors later in life. Researchers have investigated the effects of communal rearing on competitive and exploratory behaviors in adult male house mice. |
PNW woodlands will be less vulnerable to drought, fire than Rocky Mountain, Sierra forests Posted: 16 Nov 2018 11:00 AM PST Forests in the Pacific Northwest will be less vulnerable to drought and fire over the next three decades than those in the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada, computer modeling shows. |
Different types of physical activity offer varying protection against heart disease Posted: 16 Nov 2018 10:59 AM PST While it is well known that physical activity is important for heart health, neither research nor recommendations consistently differentiate between the benefits of different types of physical activity. New research found that while all physical activity is beneficial, static activities -- such as strength training-- were more strongly associated with reducing heart disease risks than dynamic activities like walking and cycling. |
How head injuries lead to serious brain diseases Posted: 16 Nov 2018 10:59 AM PST Biologists reveal the hidden molecular basis of brain disorders and provide the first cell atlas of the hippocampus -- the part of the brain that helps regulate learning and memory -- as it is affected by traumatic brain injury. The researchers propose gene candidates for treating brain diseases associated with traumatic brain injury such as Alzheimer's disease and post-traumatic stress disorder. |
Kilogram, ampere, kelvin and mole redefined Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:55 AM PST In a landmark decision, representatives from 60 countries voted to redefine the International System of Units (SI), changing the world's definition of the kilogram, the ampere, the kelvin and the mole, forever. |
Half of the world's annual precipitation falls in just 12 days Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:06 AM PST Currently, half of the world's measured precipitation that falls in a year falls in just 12 days, according to a new analysis of data collected at weather stations across the globe. By century's end, climate models project that this lopsided distribution of rain and snow is likely to become even more skewed, with half of annual precipitation falling in 11 days. |
Playing high school football changes the teenage brain Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:06 AM PST A single season of high school football may cause microscopic changes in the structure of the brain, according to a new study. A new type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed significant changes in the structure of the grey matter in the front and rear of the brain and changes to structures deep inside the brain. |
Social isolation linked to higher risk of death Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:06 AM PST A large study links social isolation with a higher risk of death from all causes combined and heart disease for all races studied, and with increased cancer mortality in white men and women. |
Artificial intelligence predicts treatment effectiveness Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:06 AM PST How can a doctor predict the treatment outcome of an individual patient? Traditionally, the effectiveness of medical treatments is studied by randomized trials, but is this really the only reliable way to evaluate treatment effectiveness, or could something be done differently? How can the effectiveness of a treatment method be evaluated in practice? Could some patients benefit from a treatment that does not cause a response in others? A new method now provides answers to these questions. |
Proteins cooperate to break up energy structures in oxygen starved heart cells Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:06 AM PST Researchers found that the filamin A-Drp1 complex mediates mitochondrial fission in a mouse model of hypoxic heart cells. Results show that hypoxic stress brought about the interaction of filamin A with Drp1 and increased Drp1 activity in heart cells. This process led to mitochondrial fragmentation and cell senescence. Further investigation demonstrated that the drug cilnidipine suppressed Drp1-filamin A complex formation and preserved heart cell function. |
Universal laws in impact dynamics of dust agglomerates under microgravity conditions Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:06 AM PST Scientists have found evidence that when projectiles hit soft clumps of dust or hard clumps of loose glass beads, the scaling laws for energy dissipation and energy transfer are the same in each case. This helps us understand how granular clumps stick together, and how planets are formed. |
Affordable catalyst for CO2 recycling Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:06 AM PST A catalyst for carbon dioxide recycling, Mineral pentlandite may also be a conceivable alternative to expensive precious metal catalysts. Pentlandite had previously been known as a catalyst for hydrogen production. By adding a suitable solvent, the researchers successfully utilised it to convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide. The latter is a common source material in the chemical industry. |
The engineering work of ants can influence paleoclimatic studies Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:06 AM PST The paleontological site of Somosaguas (Madrid) hosts a large colony of ants of the species Messor barbarus. A study has now revealed that the daily activity of these insects modifies soil composition and therefore influences the results obtained in paleoclimatic studies. The researchers also found that the ants transport fossils. |
Long-term exposure to road traffic noise may increase the risk of obesity Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:06 AM PST Long term exposure to road traffic noise is associated with increased risk of obesity. |
Eleven seal species narrowly escaped extinction Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:06 AM PST Population geneticists have found that eleven seal species only narrowly escaped extinction. |
Controlling organ growth with light Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:05 AM PST In optogenetics, researchers use light to control protein activity. This technique allows them to alter the shape of embryonic tissue and to inhibit the development of abnormalities. Now, scientists have enhanced the technique to stop organ-shaping processes in fruit fly embryos. Their results allow control over a crucial step in embryonic development. |
Channels for the supply of energy Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:05 AM PST Scientists elucidate the mechanism for the transport of water-insoluble protein molecules in mitochondria. |
3D chemical maps of single bacteria Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:05 AM PST Researchers used ultrabright x-rays to generate 3D nanoscale maps of a single bacteria's chemical composition with unparalleled spatial resolution. |
Predatory behavior of Florida's skull-collecting ant Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:05 AM PST New research describes the behavioral and chemical strategies of a Florida ant, Formica archboldi, that decorates its nest with the dismembered body parts of other ant species. |
New way to look at cell membranes could change the way we study disease Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:05 AM PST Researchers have developed a new technique to analyze cell membrane proteins in situ which could revolutionize the way in which we study diseases, such as cancer, metabolic and heart diseases. |
Human pharmaceuticals change cricket personality Posted: 16 Nov 2018 08:05 AM PST Crickets that are exposed to human drugs that alter serotonin levels in the brain are less active and less aggressive than crickets that have had no drug exposure, according to a new study. |
Severe eczema may best be treated by allergy shots Posted: 16 Nov 2018 05:32 AM PST A medically-challenging case found that allergy shots provided significant benefits to the eczema symptoms suffered by a 48-year-old man. |
Milk allergy affects half of US food-allergic kids under age 1 Posted: 16 Nov 2018 05:32 AM PST New research found that over two percent of all US children under the age of 5 have a milk allergy, and 53 percent of food-allergic infants under age 1 have a cow's milk allergy. |
Sucking your baby's pacifier to clean it may prevent allergies Posted: 16 Nov 2018 05:32 AM PST New research suggests a link between parental sucking on a pacifier and a lower allergic response among young children. |
Establishment of the immortalized cell line derived from Okinawa rail (endangered species) Posted: 16 Nov 2018 05:32 AM PST As part of the cellular conservation of endangered species, our group initiated a primary cell culture project aimed at preserving endangered avian species in Japan, such as the Okinawa rail. However, primary cells cannot be cultured indefinitely because of cellular senescence and stresses caused by cell culture. To overcome these cell culture limitations, primary cells must be immortalized. As a result, we succeeded to obtain the immortalized avian cells with cell cycle regulation genes expression. |
Safest way to dine out for those with food allergies is using up to 15 strategies Posted: 16 Nov 2018 05:31 AM PST New research examined what tools people who have food allergies use to prevent allergic reactions at restaurants. |
Posted: 15 Nov 2018 01:50 PM PST Researchers have developed novel synthetic DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies (DMAbs) directed against PCSK9, a protein key to regulating cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. Results of preclinical studies showed a significant cholesterol decrease, opening the door for further development of this approach as a simple, less frequent and cost-effective therapy. |
Posted: 15 Nov 2018 01:50 PM PST It takes energy to make weapons, but it may take even more energy to maintain them. Because leaf-footed bugs drop their legs, it is possible to measure how much energy they allocate to maintaining this appendage that males use to fight other males. |
Animal populations are shrinking due to their high-risk food-finding strategies Posted: 15 Nov 2018 01:50 PM PST A study using animal-attached technology to measure food consumption in four very different wild vertebrates has revealed that animals using a high-risk strategy to find rarer food are particularly susceptible to becoming extinct, as they fail to gather food for their young before they starve. |
'Smart skin' simplifies spotting strain in structures Posted: 15 Nov 2018 12:49 PM PST A 'smart skin' employs the unique fluorescent characteristics of carbon nanotubes to quickly assess strain in materials. The method is intended for aircraft, spacecraft and critical infrastructures in which mechanical strain needs to be monitored. |
Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of premature birth Posted: 15 Nov 2018 12:49 PM PST A new review has found that increasing the intake of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) during pregnancy reduces the risk of premature births. |
Dietary fat is good? Dietary fat is bad? Coming to consensus Posted: 15 Nov 2018 11:50 AM PST Which is better, a low-fat/high-carbohydrate diet or a high-fat/low-carbohydrate diet -- or is it the type of fat that matters? In a new paper, researchers with diverse expertise and perspectives on the issues laid out the case for each position and came to a consensus and a future research agenda. |
A bigger nose, a bigger bang: Size matters for ecoholocating toothed whales Posted: 15 Nov 2018 11:50 AM PST A new study sheds light on how toothed whales adapted their sonar abilities to occupy different environments. The study shows that as animals grew bigger, they were able to put more energy into their echolocation sounds -- but surprisingly, the sound energy increased much more than expected. |
Making moves and memories, are they connected? Posted: 15 Nov 2018 11:49 AM PST Researchers report the first direct evidence that the cerebellum does more than just control muscle activity. It also plays a role in cognitive functions. |
Bursting bubbles launch bacteria from water to air Posted: 15 Nov 2018 11:49 AM PST A new study shows how bubbles contaminated with bacteria can act as tiny microbial grenades, bursting and launching microorganisms, including potential pathogens, out of the water and into the air. |
Astronomers find possible elusive star behind supernova Posted: 15 Nov 2018 11:49 AM PST Astronomers may have finally uncovered the long-sought progenitor to a specific type of exploding star by sifting through NASA Hubble Space Telescope archival data. The supernova, called a Type Ic, is thought to detonate after its massive star has shed or been stripped of its outer layers of hydrogen and helium. |
Astronomers detect once-in-a-lifetime gamma rays Posted: 15 Nov 2018 11:49 AM PST It's not every day you get to observe a gamma-ray binary system. In fact, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience comparable to seeing Halley's Comet or a solar eclipse. |
Humpback whales come to the Mediterranean to feed themselves Posted: 15 Nov 2018 08:53 AM PST Although the presence of humpback whales in the Mediterranean has been considered unusual, it is known that their visits have increased in the last 150 years. A recent study indicates that what motivates these cetacean mammals to enter these waters is the search for food. |
Scorpion venom to shuttle drugs into the brain Posted: 15 Nov 2018 08:53 AM PST Biologists have described the capacity of a small protein (a peptide) derived from chlorotoxin, found in scorpion venom (Giant Yellow Israeli scorpion), to carry drugs across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). |
Android child's face strikingly expressive Posted: 15 Nov 2018 07:46 AM PST Android faces must express greater emotion if robots are to interact with humans more effectively. Researchers tackled this challenge as they upgraded their android child head, named Affetto. They precisely examined Affetto's facial surface points and the precise balancing of different forces necessary to achieve more human-like motion. Through mechanical measurements and mathematical modeling, they were able to use their findings to greatly enhance Affetto's range of emotional expression. |
Insect antibiotic provides new way to eliminate bacteria Posted: 15 Nov 2018 07:46 AM PST An antibiotic called thanatin attacks the way the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is built. Researchers have now found out that this happens through a previously unknown mechanism. Thanatin, produced naturally by the spined soldier bug, can therefore be used to develop new classes of antibiotics. |
You are subscribed to email updates from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States |
Loading...
Loading...